NEWS

Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, The Ken Blair Sunday 04 October 2026 Portrush RNLI volunteers have assisted two kayakers who were struggling to return to shore after an offshore wind carried them away from White Rocks towards Dunluce Castle. The alarm was raised by friends watching from shore who became concerned when the pair, who were using an inflatable kayak, were unable to make progress back towards the beach. Friends alert Coastguard Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat,

CGI giving an impression of what the new CRS Ballymena base could look like when constructed. Image: © Love Ballymena 2026 Tuesday 22 September 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is considering a planning application for a new purpose-built training centre and station in Ballymena for the Community Rescue Service (CRS). The proposal would see a single-storey building constructed at Kernohan’s Lane, around 70 metres from the Ecos Centre, together with 28 car parking spac

Larne all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy. (Photo: Jason Bain) Saturday 19 September 2026 Larne RNLI volunteers brought a boater safely ashore after a vessel suffered mechanical failure off the County Antrim coast on Friday afternoon. The alarm was raised by the person onboard after the boat broke down, with HM Coastguard requesting the launch of Larne’s all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy at 2.54pm on 18 September. Casualty found north of Isle of Muck Coxswain Chris Dorman, me

Inshore Lifeboat Terry. (Image: Jason Bain, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, Larne) Two people have been brought safely ashore after their fishing boat suffered a mechanical failure in Larne Harbour on Sunday morning. RNLI volunteers launch to help stricken boat Larne RNLI’s volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat Terry shortly before midday after HM Coastguard received a report from one of the crew members that their vessel had broken down. The lifeboat was requested to lau

Redbay RNLI launched after a 46ft yacht became trapped off Cushendall, on the Antrim coast. Six people have been brought to safety after Red Bay RNLI volunteers spent seven hours at sea in gale-force conditions when a 46ft yacht became trapped at a fish farm off Cushendall. The overnight Mayday operation began in the early hours of Saturday morning after the yacht, which was travelling from Oban in Scotland to Portugal, lost all power and steering after making contact with th

RNLI lifeguards rescue person trapped at cave off Whiterocks Beach. (Picture: Chris Little / Coleraine Coastguard) A bodyboarder swept out to sea by a sudden rip current and an injured walker trapped beside a cave were rescued during a busy afternoon for RNLI lifeguards on the Causeway Coast. The two incidents happened within around an hour of each other at Portrush East Strand and Whiterocks Beach on Sunday afternoon, 6 September. Both casualties were brought safely ashore,

A Land Rover Defender restored on the television programme Car SOS will take centre stage when Motorfest NI brings cars, motorcycles, trucks and live emergency-service displays to Ballymena this Sunday. The family event opens to the public at Ballymena Showgrounds at 11am on Sunday 23 August, with admission costing £5. Organisers say 100% of the money raised will go to Community Rescue Service Central. From television restoration to rescue service The distinctive Defender und

Two people were brought safely ashore after both of their jet skis broke down off the County Antrim coast on Saturday afternoon, prompting a rescue operation by Larne RNLI. The volunteer crew launched their D class inshore lifeboat Terry at 2.24pm on Saturday, 1 August, after HM Coastguard received a distress call from one of the jet skiers reporting that the pair had become stranded near Browns Bay. Weather conditions were favourable at the time, with calm seas and a light n

Andrew Todd with the RNLI lifeguard team at Whiterocks Beach A father who was rescued alongside his two children after being caught in a powerful rip current at Whiterocks Beach, Portrush, has returned to thank the RNLI as the charity marks 25 years of its lifeguard service. The visit coincides with International Lifeguard Appreciation Day on Friday, 31 July, with the RNLI paying tribute to the lifeguards who patrol beaches across the UK and Ireland and highlighting the role

Larne RNLI has officially welcomed a new era in its lifesaving service after its new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, Machiko Nancy, was formally named during a ceremony in Larne on Saturday. The vessel, which has been on operational service since February, was dedicated during a special ceremony at East Antrim Boat Club attended by RNLI volunteers, supporters, dignitaries and the families whose generosity helped fund the lifeboat. The naming marks a significant milestone

Portrush RNLI all-weather lifeboat Portrush RNLI volunteers were called to two separate rescue incidents within just 20 minutes on Saturday evening, with three people rescued after becoming cut off by the tide at Dunseverick while another crew recovered a capsized jet ski at West Strand. The back-to-back launches saw both the station’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and inshore lifeboat (ILB) deployed following requests from Belfast Coastguard. The first call came at 6.25pm, when

One of Northern Ireland’s biggest annual motoring events will return to Ballymena Showgrounds this summer, with organisers now appealing for businesses to help make the charity fundraiser its most successful yet. Motorfest NI 2026 will take place on Sunday 23 August, bringing together hundreds of cars, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, automotive clubs and exhibitors, alongside thousands of enthusiasts and families from across Northern Ireland. Organised by the Community Rescue

Red Bay lifeboats. (Image: Colin King) A lone kayaker who became stranded in rough seas off the County Antrim coast was rescued by RNLI volunteers late on Sunday night after spending around six hours on the water. The kayaker had set off at approximately 6.30pm on Sunday (July 12) but got into difficulty around one-and-a-half miles north of Cushendun when his kayak became swamped by heavy sea swells, leaving him unable to paddle back to shore. Cold and exhausted, he managed t

Larne RNLI all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy. (Image: Jason Bain) Two paddleboarders have been brought safely back to shore after being found on the Isle of Muck off Islandmagee on Saturday evening. Larne RNLI’s volunteer crew was returning from an earlier emergency call when it received a fresh request from HM Coastguard at around 5.20pm on 11 July. A member of the public had spotted that the paddleboarders were in difficulty and raised the alarm — a decision the lifeboat c

Larne RNLI volunteers rescuing a fishing boat on the Antrim coast. Three people aboard a broken-down fishing boat were brought safely ashore after Larne RNLI launched a rescue operation off the County Antrim coast. The callout on Thursday evening, 9 July, marked the first operational shout for volunteer crew member Andy Purves, who recently joined Larne RNLI. The fishing vessel was found around half a mile north of Portmuck, close to the cliffs, after suffering a mechanical f

Senior RNLI Lifeguard Annie Jagoe A swimmer was rescued from a dangerous rip current on the Antrim coast after getting into difficulty outside the designated bathing area, prompting a rapid emergency response from RNLI lifeguards, the Coastguard and the ambulance service. The incident happened at around 5pm on Monday, 7 July at Portrush West Strand, when lifeguards were alerted by a member of the public to a woman struggling against strong surging waves beyond the red and yel

(Photo: Jason Bain) A fishing boat carrying two crew members was safely brought back to Larne Harbour on Monday evening after suffering a mechanical failure close to one of Northern Ireland’s busiest shipping routes. Volunteer crew from Larne RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat following a request from HM Coastguard at 7.42pm on Monday after receiving reports that the vessel had broken down at sea. The incident unfolded north-east of the East Maidens Lighthouse, where th

Portrush RNLI Inshore Lifeboat ‘The Ken Blair’ Two kayakers were rescued off the north coast on Wednesday afternoon after getting into difficulty in the water near Ramore Head in Portrush. Volunteer crew members from RNLI were called into action after reports that two people had ended up in the sea alongside their kayaks just off the popular coastal headland. The incident prompted the launch of the Portrush RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, with the rescue operation unfolding shortly af

A casualty with a suspected broken leg was rescued from a beach earlier today (Monday 25 May) after HM Coastguard Larne and the volunteer crew of Larne RNLI launched a joint emergency response. The incident unfolded in a difficult coastal location where access for ambulance crews was limited and changing tidal conditions created additional pressure for rescuers working on scene. Coastguard teams arrived quickly and worked alongside the RNLI crew to stabilise the casualty befo

Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy was launched for the first time on Sunday afternoon after two crew members onboard a broken-down RIB got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast. The volunteer crew were requested to launch at 2.48pm on Monday 25 May following a call from HM Coastguard after a member of the crew onboard the vessel reported that they had suffered a breakdown w