Portaferry RNLI responds after two people and dog cut off by tide
Wednesday 30 September 2026
Portaferry RNLI lifeboat crew were paged at 4.56pm this afternoon (Wednesday 30 September) following reports that two people and a dog had been cut off by the tide at the northern end of Strangford Lough.
Belfast Coastguard alerted the volunteer crew, who responded swiftly, with eleven volunteers answering their pagers.
The station’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, Blue Peter V, was launched shortly afterwards with helm Scott Blackwood and crew members Molly Crowe, Rosslyn Wetret and Chris Jenkins onboard.
At the time of launch, conditions were clear, with a Force 6 strong southerly breeze and a moderately choppy sea state.
As the lifeboat made her way towards the casualties, conditions deteriorated, with the sea state worsening and the tide continuing to fall. Having assessed the situation, the lifeboat crew determined that it would not be possible to get close enough to the shore to safely transfer the casualties and their dog onto the lifeboat.
The decision was therefore taken for the lifeboat to return to Portaferry.
Blue Peter V arrived back at the station at 6pm, where the volunteer crew washed and refuelled the lifeboat before making her ready for the next callout.
Portaferry RNLI would like to thank all eleven volunteers who responded to their pagers for their continued commitment and willingness to answer the call when people find themselves in difficulty at sea or around the coast.
