Busy Saturday for Lough Neagh Rescue volunteers with double rescue
- Robert Stone
- Sep 14
- 2 min read
Sunday 14 September 2025
The volunteer crew of Lough Neagh Rescue had a busy Saturday evening with two separate incidents.
At 5:16pm on Saturday 13 September, LNR volunteer lifeboat crews were paged by Belfast Coastguard to assist a 22ft sailing yacht with three people onboard, stranded north of Padian Island.
The vessel was hard aground on a rocky shoreline, the engine had failed, and it was being buffeted by force 4 westerly winds.
An LNR lifeboat launched swiftly, carefully navigating the tricky shallow waters around Padian Island in rough conditions.
A tow line was secured, pulling the stricken yacht into deeper water where a long tow was established.
An LNR lifeboat crew member remained onboard with the passengers, ensuring their safety, while the yacht and its crew were towed safely back to the safer waters of Kinnego Marina.
After the lifeboat returned to base, while refuelling and preparing the lifeboat for possible re-tasking, the Lough Neagh Rescue crew faced another emergency.
A member of the public who was not involved in the original call-out, had fallen from the main jetty into deep water.
Recognising the danger and without hesitation, one of the LNR volunteer crew members reacted instantly, pulling the individual from the water to safety. Thankfully, everyone was safe and well thanks to the crew member's swift actions.
A spokeperson from Lough Neagh Rescue said:
'Callouts can be physically and mentally demanding for our crews, and we are immensely proud of our volunteer for their courage, quick thinking, and dedication, whether out on the Lough Neagh or responding in the moment onshore'.
'We’d like to remind everyone to be always extra vigilant and aware of their safety around water, whether walking on jetties or boating on the Lough because things can change in an instant'.
'If you’d like to support us, please look out for our fundraising events or visit our JustGiving page'. https://www.justgiving.com/charity/loughneaghrescueltd
'Please join us in thanking our incredible volunteers who give their free time to keep our community safe on Lough Neagh'.
