Carrybridge RNLI

23/10/2026

🛟🛟🛟Safety Message🛟🛟🛟

Storm Boelo is set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we’re asking the public to stay vigilant and not take unnecessary risks. If you plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea.

'If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: Lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are wet, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as best as you can until you get control of your breathing before then calling for help or swimming to safety.'

‘If you see someone else in danger – do not enter the water yourself as you could also end up in serious difficulty. Instead, remember phone, float, throw – phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the struggling person to float; throw them something buoyant, like a life ring.’

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, the RNLI’s safety advice is float to live:
👉 Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
👉 Relax and try to breathe normally
👉 Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
👉 It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
👉 Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

If you see someone else in trouble at the coast, remember Phone, Float Throw:
👉 Phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard to get help.
👉 Tell the struggling person to Float to Live.
👉 Throw them something that floats, such as a life ring.

RNLI

06/10/2026

🛟🛟🛟CALLOUTS🛟🛟🛟

Carrybridge RNLI assists 3 people in 2 separate callouts within 90 minutes

At 12.26pm on Saturday 3 October, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard, to assess a 10 metre vessel with two people on board, which had run aground approx. 1 mile South East of Naan Island.

Winds were South Westerly, Force 1. Visibility was good with clear skies.

The volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat located the vessel which was aground just off the main navigation channel. Once alongside, the lifeboat crew assessed the wellbeing of the two people on board and found them to be safe and well and wearing lifejackets. The casualty vessel was also checked, and all was found to be in a safe condition with no water ingress, however it was grounded in an area of shallow water.

The lifeboat helm and crew assessed the situation and due to the vessel’s location and its status of being aground, they deemed the safest option was for the owner to obtain the assistance of an independent recovery company to assist in the refloating of their vessel. This information was relayed onto Belfast Coastguard and the volunteer crew remained with the casualty vessel and its crew until the recovery company arrived on scene.

Once their craft was successfully refloated, the lifeboat crew thanked the recovery company for their assistance, checked the casualty vessel and the people on board to make sure everything was ok which it was, and the casualty vessel was then able to proceed under its own power on its onward journey.

Whilst Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was attending their callout, at 2.00pm station personal who were attending the lifeboat station to assist with the lifeboats launch and recovery witnessed a person fall into the water from their vessel close to the lifeboat stations slipway. The casualty’s vessel had drifted out, and they had fallen between it and their jetty.

Three station volunteers rushed down to the jetty and located the casualty person, who was in the water and was able to stand on the bottom. They checked if they were injured and they were found to be safe and well but were shocked with what had happened. The volunteers only option to retrieve the person from the water was by lifting them back onto the casualty’s own jetty which was successfully completed. They then carried out an assessment of the casualty and found them to be fine and well and provided them with towels to dry off. The casualty’s vessel was then secured, and the owner was able to make their own way home by road.

Speaking following the call out, Stephen Scott, Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge RNLI advised all boat users: ‘‘It’s great to see people enjoying the end of the summer boating season on our wonderful waterways. We would advise all boat users before setting out on your journey to please plan your route ahead using the relevant charts for the area making sure to check the navigational marks on the water to those shown on your chart. Have a means of calling for assistance if you find yourself in trouble and have lifejackets for all on board. If you see someone or something in trouble on the water or are in difficulties yourself the number to dial is: 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’’

RNLI

05/10/2026

Yesterday our crew did a joint exercise with our colleagues in the Irish Coastguard Helicopter from Sligo, Rescue 118. This is something we do annually to keep our training up to date. This was also the first time we had worked with their new helicopter, a Leonardo AW189.

RNLI Irish Coast Guard

05/10/2026

Falling overboard is the single biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the fishing industry. In 2021, 10 fishermen tragically lost their lives at sea. Six of these were recorded as man overboard fatalities by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Seafish is running a Man Overboard Session to help reduce this. The in-water awareness event explains how to reduce the risk in going overboard and what can be done to improve the chances of survival. Participants will experience a man overboard emergency under controlled conditions.

🛟 MAN OVERBOARD AWARENESS DAY 🛟
🗓️ 12 October
📍 National Fisheries College of Ireland, Greencastle , County Donegal
🚘 Travel and subsistence costs can be claimed
🥪 Lunch will be provided
💴 £200 training grant for fishers completing the course

Click here to register: HTTPS://atpportal.seafish.org/registration/sea-fish-industry-authority/1511
📧 OR email [email protected]

The session will cover:
Causes of falling overboard
How to prevent falling overboard
How to improve chance of survival if you do fall overboard
Jumping into the pool with clothes and oilskins on, with and without a personal flotation device on
Practise climbing into a life raft
Practise with the lines, tyres and a ladder to pull you out of the water.

RNLI

02/10/2026

🛟🛟🛟IMPORTANT PADDLEBOARDING MESSAGE🛟🛟🛟

🌬️ If you can see it, hear it or feel it, it's too windy to paddle.

Many paddleboarders get caught out by offshore winds because the water can appear calm and inviting. But looks can be deceiving.

A Force 4 wind (20 km/h or 13 mph) can push a paddleboarder around one mile offshore in just 30 minutes.

That's why we encourage:
🚪 Force 4 or more, close the door. Or simply remember: 🍀 13 mph = unlucky for paddleboarding ✅ 20 km/h = plenty of wind to stay ashore

Before heading out, check the forecast, look around and ask:
💨 Dust or rubbish blowing?
🌳 Small branches moving?
🌊 White horses forming?
👂 Wind gusts easy to hear?
👕 Wind moving your clothing or board?
If the answer is yes, think twice before launching.
🏄‍♂️ The safest paddle is the one where you return safely.

RNLI

24/09/2026

🛟🛟🛟Carrybridge RNLI assists 2 vessels and new helm completes his first shout🛟🛟🛟

At 2.50pm on Tuesday 22 September, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard, to assess a 9 metre vessel with two people on board, which had run aground approx. 2 miles West of Kilmore Quay.

Winds were South Westerly, Force 3. Visibility was good with clear skies.

The volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat located the vessel which was aground just off the main navigation channel. Once alongside, the lifeboat crew assessed the wellbeing of the two people on board and found them to be safe and well and wearing lifejackets. The casualty vessel was also checked, and all was found to be in a safe condition with no water ingress, however it was grounded in an area of very shallow water.

The lifeboat helm and crew assessed the situation and due to the vessel’s location and its status of being aground, they deemed the safest option was for the owner to obtain the assistance of an independent recovery company to assist in the refloating of their vessel. This information was relayed onto Belfast Coastguard, and the volunteer crew assisted the owner in contacting a recovery company. The people onboard the casualty vessel were happy to remain on their vessel until it was refloated and for the lifeboat to return to their station. They were made aware that if further assistance was required then they were to contact Belfast Coastguard again.

This was also the first callout for Matthew Nelson, the newest helm at Carrybridge RNLI who recently passed out on Wednesday 19 August 2026. Matthew can now take command of the lifeboat during exercises and shouts.

A few days earlier on Friday 18 September at 8.15pm, whilst the Carrybridge RNLI lifeboat crew were just launching on a training exercise, they came across a casualty vessel within the Carrybridge area which was struggling to moor their vessel due to complete darkness.

The volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat came alongside the casualty vessel and checked that everyone was safe and well and also checked that the vessel was in good condition, and all was found to be ok. The owner of the vessel requested help from the lifeboat crew to assist them in getting moored up for the night and this information was relayed onto Belfast Coastguard. The crew moored the lifeboat and three of the volunteer crew members made their way to one of the public jetties at Carrybridge and then proceeded to guide the casualty vessel until it was safely secured. Once this was completed the lifeboat crew continued with their exercise.

Speaking following the call out, Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Carrybridge RNLI advised all boat users: ‘‘As the darker and longer evenings are new moving in, we would ask all boaters to make sure you are safely moored up before darkness sets in. We would advise all boat users before setting out on your journey to please plan your route ahead using the relevant charts and also allow extra time for your journey. Have a means of calling for assistance if you find yourself in trouble and have lifejackets for all on board. If you see someone or something in trouble on the water or are in difficulties yourself the number to dial is: 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’’

RNLI

21/09/2026

🛟🛟Multi agency rescue assists three people and a dog onboard a narrow boat aground involving Enniskillen RNLI, Carrybridge RNLI and Lough Erne Coastguard Rescue Team🛟🛟

RNLI

At 11:56am on Tuesday 15 September, Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis, was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard, following a report that a narrow boat had run aground on Lower Lough Erne.

27/08/2026

🎉🎉 Save The Date! 🎉🎉

The 25th Anniversary of the formation of Carrybridge RNLI is in June 2027 and we'd love to have you come and support that event as we celebrate 25 years of life saving on Lough Erne.

Saturday 5th June 2027 in the beautiful pavilion at Belle Isle Estate, Castle and Cottages

We hope to see you there!

25/08/2026

Very well done, thank you

Well we may have had rain for the first year, but it is Fermanagh. 😊 Thanks to everyone who helped to raise an amazing £800 in aid of both our local RNLI stations.