A busy Sunday for Bangor RNLI volunteers following three separate incidents

Monday 29 September 2025

On Sunday (28 September), the volunteers of Bangor RNLI conducted three operations following reports of people in difficulty.

Photo Credit: RNLI/Tom Bell

At 3.40pm Belfast Coastguard asked Bangor RNLI to assist and angling boat that had experienced mechanical failure close to the Gobbins on the north shore near Islandmagee.

The lifeboat Ruby Robinson launched immediately with volunteers John Bell, Andrew Gedge and Gavin Mitchell onboard and made best speed to the casualty vessel. Once at the scene the lifeboat crew observed nine fishermen onboard all wearing lifejackets, all were safe and well. The lifeboat helm assessed the situation and a decision was made to tow the boat back to the nearest safest harbour at Bangor Marina as the vessel couldn't make any safe onward progress. A crew member was transferred onboard the angling boat and a safe tow line was established.

On route back to Bangor, the lifeboat crew received an urgent call from Belfast Coastguard requesting them to divert to assist a sailor that was in difficulty after going for a swim. The lifeboat relinquished the tow of the angling boat and diverted to Bangor bay where the found a swimmer struggling to re-board his boat after going for a swim. The swimmer was assisted onto his boat and the lifeboat then returned to the angling boat.

The tow was re-established and the vessel was brought to Bangor Marina where she was berthed.

Earlier on Sunday morning at 5.35am, the volunteers were asked by HM Coastguard to assist in searching for a missing person close to Helen's Bay. The person was located ashore safe and well and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to Bangor station.

Speaking following Sunday's operations, Bangor RNLI Helm Andrew Gedge said: 'Today was a busy day for the station and we are grateful to all the volunteers involved, including our shore crew team. We are happy that everyone was safe and well in all instances and we had positive results. We would like to commend the people who raised the alarm on these shouts today as that is always the right thing to do. We would much rather launch and find all is well than not launch at all. Should you have any concerns for your own safety or that of someone else, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.'