Newcastle and Kilkeel RNLI respond to false alarm with good intent

Friday 5 September 2025

Newcastle and Kilkeel RNLI responded to a false alarm with good intent last night after flares were sighted off the County Down coast.

Newcastle RNLI's shore crew watch their all-weather lifeboat at the slip. Photo Credit: RNLI/Newcastle

Volunteers from Newcastle RNLI were on a routine training exercise on their inshore lifeboat when they spotted red flares being set off between Newcastle and Kilkeel. They subsequently informed Belfast Coastguard.

Weather conditions at the time were fine with a Force 2-3 westerly wind, smooth seas, some cloud and good visibility.

At 9.03pm, the Coastguard requested the lifeboat to divert from exercise and investigate the flare sightings. The lifeboat proceeded in the direction of where the flares were sighted and the crew carried out a search along the way. Kilkeel RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was requested and joined shortly afterwards with both crews searching the area off Kilkeel Harbour. Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to join the search as was a Coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick, Kilkeel Coastguard’s shore-based team and a Coastguard spotter plane.

The multi-agency search was stood down when nothing untoward was found.

Speaking following the call out, Daniel Curran, Newcastle RNLI Launch Authority said: ‘There was a multi-agency response last night and a thorough search was carried out before all assets were stood down. While this transpired to be a false alarm with good intent, we would always much rather launch to find all is well than not launch at all. We would like to thank and commend all our colleagues in the various emergency services who worked very well together. We would encourage anyone who gets into difficulty at the coast or thinks someone is in trouble to call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’