Portrush RNLI (Image: Coleraine Coastguard)
Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard at 7.15pm on Tuesday evening to reports of a person who had fallen onto rocks between Portrush and Portstewart.
The All-weather Lifeboat was already out on exercise so was diverted to the scene and was able to arriveapproximately 10 minutes after the pagers were activated.
Once on scene the crew realised that the person was unresponsive, and risk assessed the situation liaising with the PSNI and Coastguard in terms of a plan of action. At this point the Inshore Lifeboat was requested to launch to assist.
The ILB was launched at 7.19 pm and arrived on scene within 15 minutes. Once on scene two ILB crew went ashore and on assessing the situation requested thattwo ALB crew also be brought ashore to assist with the evacuation of the casualty.
The volunteer crew were then able to assist the casualty into the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, HMCG and the waiting Air Ambulance, at the top of the cliff.
The scene of the rescue (Image: Coleraine Coastguard)
Perry Walton, Deputy Coxswain at Portrush said:
‘Because the crew were already out on an exercise, we were able to respond to the page from HMCG very quickly.
"Added to the fact that weather conditions were good, we had good visibility and a fairly calm sea, we could locate the casualty immediately and help with the evacuation of the casualty to the cliff top.
"We would always ask people to be careful when walking along the cliff edges as its very easy to lose footing. If you see someone in difficulty, please ring 999 and ask for the Coastguard."
A spokesperson for Coleraine Coastguard added:
"Coleraine and Ballycastle Rope Rescue Teams were tasked to reports of a person spotted motionless on rocks at the base of a cliff at Ballyreagh Golf Course, Portrush.
"In a multi-agency response involving NIAS, HEMS, Portrush RNLI and the PSNI, the casualty was secured into the Coastguard rope rescue stretcher and recovered to the top of the cliff.
"The casualty was then transferred to the waiting ambulance."
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