Bangor RNLI

06/10/2026

Hi Folks,
One of the RNLI’s partner’s Seafish, is running a Man Overboard session in Greencastle in County Donegal on 12 October – aimed at Northern Ireland fishermen.

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.


Nuala McAloon
RNLI Regional Communications Manager, Ireland
Email: [email protected]

02/10/2026

🌬️ 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.

20/09/2026

Bangor RNLI would like to say congratulations to:
Tarek & Stephen on passing Tier 1,
Charlie on passing Tier 2, and also
Pete on his Helm Revalidation.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their time today to help. And Debbie & Kyle for the photos.

20/09/2026

Bangor RNLI would like to wish John Bell
A huge congratulations for…

(The following article was taken from The Belfast Telegraph )

The 999 Hero Award at this year's Awards goes to RNLI volunteer John Bell.

This award, sponsored by Four Star Pizza, goes to someone from the emergency services who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. It has been presented by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Michael McDowell, aka Billy from Give My Head Peace, alongside Sean Scott, representing Four Star Pizza.

John Bell is a solicitor by trade but also finds the time to volunteer for the RNLI, willingly risking his own safety to rescue others. For more than 30 years he has gone where others cannot, in some of the most dangerous conditions, all in the name of helping others in need.

As one of the charity’s veteran volunteers, John has always been a fantastic mentor to younger members of the team, showing them the ropes and always making sure they are coping OK with what can be challenging and emotionally stressful rescue operations.

He is everything you would want an RNLI volunteer to be: quick-thinking, brave, kind and compassionate, but above all determined to do everything in his power to protect those in need. He may not see himself as a hero, but to his family, friends and those he has met during emergencies, he is the very definition of the word.

20/09/2026

Bangor RNLI came to the aid of three people on a yacht that had broken- down.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch the in- shore Atlantic B class lifeboat Ruby Robinson by HM Coastguard after the crew on board raised the alarm.
On Saturday 19th September at 3.20pm the alarm was raised that a pleasure boat with three people on board of Bally McCormick point had engine failure and was in danger of drifting on to rocks.
Weather conditions at the time were described as good visibility with a Force 6 wind.
The crew Gavin, John, Christine and Charlie made best speed to Bally McCormick point. On arrival at the location, it was established that the crew of the vessel were safe and well and the reason for the breakdown was mechanical failure. It was decided that the safest course of action was that a tow line be established and the boat taken to the safety of Bangor Marina.
Helm Gavin Mitchell said after the call out said ‘the crew had made the right decision in asking for assistance and we would like to wish them well. They were wearing the correct safety equipment.’
The RNLI would encourage anyone planning a trip to sea to check their vessels and ensure engines are well maintained. When going out, always carry adequate tools and spares and ensure you have enough fuel for your journey. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

Ends

14/09/2026

🌊 We are looking for a volunteer Water Safety Adviser and volunteer Water Safety Officer to join our teams here at Bangor RNLI.

Are you passionate about keeping people safe around the water? As Water Safety Adviser, you will help us share lifesaving advice, promote water safety messages, and build relationships within local communities.

If you're passionate about preventing drowning, enjoy engaging with people, have good communication skills and a desire to make a difference, we'd love to hear from you. Training and support are provided.

✅ Flexible volunteering
✅ Meet new people
✅ Gain valuable experience
✅ Help save lives through drowning prevention

As a Volunteer Water Safety Officer, you'll coordinate and lead local water safety activity, develop targeted interventions for at-risk groups, and work alongside RNLI volunteers to help prevent drowning incidents in coastal and inland water environments.

✅ Lead and support a team of Water Safety Advisers
✅ Help shape local water safety plans
✅ Gain valuable leadership and planning experience
✅ Flexible volunteering with full training provided

Scan the barcode on the images here to find out more and apply.

31/08/2026

On Sunday 23rd August Ballyholme Yacht Club Cadets and their parents were delighted that Bangor Lifeboat Crew were able to take some time out from their Sunday morning training to call at the Club in order to be presented with a donation towards the work of the RNLI.

The BYC Cadet Committee organised two fundraising events over the summer sailing season, a 'Dolphins & Sharks' BBQ evening in June and the Club's first 'Sunrise Sail' which took place last Sunday (23rd August).

The Sunrise Sail saw 50 Cadets, in dinghies decorated in fairy lights and illuminated sails, take to the waters of Ballyholme Bay at 0530 to watch the sun rise over Ballymacormick Point. This was followed by a much-welcomed breakfast and hot drinks to warm up afterwards at the Club House.
The Lifeboat Crew were made very welcome at the Club for both events, and were well 'fed and watered' by the time they left.

Between the Sunrise Sail and the Dolphins & Sharks BBQ in June, BYC Cadets and their families raised £1000 for Bangor RNLI.
We are very fortunate in Bangor RNLI to have the support of our local community, and the members of Ballyholme Yacht Club past and present have been prominent supporters throughout the Station's history.
It is fantastic therefore to see the next generation of sailors continuing this tradition.
Well done and Thankyou Ballyholme Dolphins & Sharks!

18/08/2026

Get Wet Stay Safe…
Free Sessions in August and September

07/08/2026

RNLI Fundraisers at the Belfast Fleadh

This Saturday (8th August), RNLI fundraisers will be out at the Belfast Fleadh carrying out a street collection and raising vital funds to support our volunteer lifeboat crews. Volunteers from Bangor, Portrush, Newcastle, Larne and Donaghadee RNLI stations will be at the Spirit of Belfast art sculpture on Ann’s street from 10am to 4pm.

If you’re enjoying the Fleadh, please stop by, say hello and give what you can. Every donation helps the RNLI continue saving lives at sea. 💙
See you at the Fleadh !

Belfast will be the host city for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, which will take place from Sunday 2 August to Sunday 9 August 2026.

24/07/2026

Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day tomorrow the RNLI are sharing the story of John Tunney and Lynda Jones.

Listen back to John and Lynda tell their story on yesterday's RTE Radio One's Drivetime programme here: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22632493/
And read their story below. We are so thankful to John and Lynda for helping us raise awareness of these key water safety messages.

A Dublin fisherman has said the RNLI’s Float to Live technique helped to save his life when he got into difficulty while fishing in Rooskey two years ago.

John Tunney was fishing from his small boat on the Leitrim side of the River Shannon at 7am on a Saturday morning in Spring when he hit a log in the river that caused his boat to flip and forced him into the lake.

An experienced water user having fished across the world, John who was wearing a lifejacket that immediately inflated, began to cling to his boat.

However, he soon saw that he was heading towards an island and knew it wouldn’t be practical to stay with the boat for much longer. Instead, he let go and began to float.

‘I lay back, spread my legs and arms, using the Float technique,’ John explains. ‘The wind was blowing upwards and I was getting pulled into the mainstream. I knew I was going to use up all my energy, so I decided to let the water take me. I was floating towards a bridge, and I knew someone would see me when I got there. I was getting quite cold and heading towards hypothermia when I was nearing a house so I called out towards it as calmly as I could.’

It was at this point that Lynda Jones who lives by the river with her husband Nathan and son Morgan, heard a faint hello from her bed.

‘I was having a lie-in before 9am when I heard a bird call that I didn’t recognise,’ Lynda explains. ‘I opened the window to see what it was and listened. But it wasn’t a bird call, it was a faint hello calling for help. Someone in a bright yellow lifejacket. So, I ran in my pjs, put on my shoes, got my lifejacket on in my kayak, got my paddle and paddled out to him. I knew the water was so cold and I didn’t know how he’d be.’

At this stage, John had been in the water for just under two hours. While he wasn’t panicking, Lynda who has water safety training through her kayaking club, said her first step was to reassure him that he would be ok. She then asked him to hold the front of her kayak.

‘He was disorientated and shutting down so I kept talking to him’, Lynda says. ‘I got him to the house where he was able to stand. Our son Morgan who was six at the time, had stood on the shore and watched all this and helped to get John to the couch. We took off his wet clothes, and we got him on the couch while my husband called 999. I knew he was talking and he was ok. I just wanted to get him warm. We made him a sugary tea to warm him up while we waited for the ambulance.’

John says his life was saved thanks to him wearing a lifejacket, using the Float to Live technique, and the timely intervention of the Jones’ family.

‘Lynda came out on her kayak and pulled me in,’ he says. ‘I was shaking badly when the family wrapped me up. I went to hospital for four hours in a hypothermic blanket before being released. I had bought the lifejacket a couple of months before and I don’t think I’d be here today without that lifejacket.

‘I had read about floating to live on the RNLI website and the float technique helped to save me, not just the technique but also staying calm. All I was focusing on was floating. My key thing was staying afloat, nothing more, not necessarily getting to land in a hurry. I had a good awareness of what to do. If I hadn’t floated, I think I might have panicked and tired myself out and made some wrong decisions. Float to Live helps you to prioritise what you’re going to do next, it buys you time and keeps you calm. It’s not purely a physical technique but a mental one too.’

Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day, the RNLI is urging people to remember Float to Live if they get into trouble in the water.

Linda-Gene Byrne, RNLI Water Safety Lead, says: ‘We know there are a huge amount of people visiting the coast and our inland waterways this summer and we want everyone to remember our Float to Live advice. Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim, or thrash about.

‘We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.’

The charity’s advice for anyone struggling in the water is Float to Live:
• Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged
• Relax and try to breathe normally
• Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat
• It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently
• Practise floating in a local pool if you can.

If you see someone else struggling in water:
• Phone 999 to get help
• Tell them to stay calm and float on their back
• Throw rescue equipment to help them float until emergency services arrive

For more information visit RNLI.org/Float

Find out how to float in water and survive cold water shock with our floating survival technique: Float to Live.