Red Bay RNLI Tasked To Medivac From Rathlin Island

Monday 4 May 2026

On Monday afternoon (4 May), Red Bay RNLI volunteer crew members carried out a medical evacuation from Rathlin Island.

Photo Credit: RNLI/Red Bay

At 1:51pm, the crew was tasked to launch by Belfast Coastguard following reports that a woman had suffered a serious fall near Rathlin Island harbour, resulting in a dislocated knee and the need for urgent hospital treatment.

Upon arrival, the lifeboat crew worked alongside the Rathlin Coastguard team, who had already reached the casualty and provided initial first aid. The teams carefully transferred the injured woman onto the lifeboat, ensuring her condition remained stable throughout.

She was then transported aboard the station’s all-weather lifeboat to Ballycastle, where further emergency services were waiting. With assistance from the Ballycastle Coastguard team, the patient was handed over to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for onward transport to hospital.

In an emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.