Portaferry RNLI crew called to reports of person cut off by tide at Cloughey

Sunday 23 August 2026

Portaferry RNLI was launched late on Saturday night (22 August) following concerns that a person may have been cut off by the tide on rocks near Ringbuoy Caravan Park in Cloughey.

Blue Peter V returns to Portaferry following a late-night callout to Cloughey on Saturday night. Photo: RNLI/Portaferry

The volunteer crew's pagers sounded at around 10pm after Belfast Coastguard received a report raising concerns for the person's safety.

Portaferry RNLI's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V was launched immediately, with helm Chris Adair and crew members Becca Nightingale, Oliver Rogers and James O'Neill onboard.

The lifeboat made its way towards the Cloughey area, where the crew began a search of the coastline and the surrounding waters. The volunteers worked to establish whether anyone was in difficulty and to ensure that the area had been thoroughly checked.

Following a search, the crew were stood down by Belfast Coastguard when it was established that their assistance was no longer required.

Blue Peter V returned to Portaferry RNLI station at approximately 12.15am, bringing the callout to a close after more than two hours.

The incident was subsequently confirmed as a false alarm with good intent.

The RNLI continues to remind members of the public to take care around the coast, particularly in areas where incoming tides can quickly restrict access or cut off people from the shore.

Anyone who finds themselves in trouble in the water should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you see someone else who may be in difficulty, raise the alarm rather than putting yourself at risk by attempting a rescue.

Portaferry RNLI's volunteer crew remain on call around the clock, ready to respond when paged to incidents in their area.