MISSING SURFERS FOUND IN CAVE

Press release: 139-11                                                        21 May 2011

At 02.20 am MRCC Belfast received a call from Police Service Northern Ireland reporting that they had received a call from a lady reporting that her son had not returned from a surfing trip with a colleague.

They had gone surfing at 6.00 pm yesterday evening and were due to return at 11.30 pm.

Belfast immediately called out the Coleraine Coastguard rescue team and requested the launch of the Portrush RNLI lifeboat and inshore lifeboat. The Coastguard helicopter R118 from Sligo, Ireland was also scrambled. PSNI officers with dogs were also assisting in the search.

A search was initiated based on the location of their car which was located at Whiterocks car park containing their personal items and their board covers.

At 3.45 am this morning, the two surfers emerged from a cave. After they had gone surfing, one of the surfers sustained a head injury when thrown onto the rocks by the waves. Taking to the caves for shelter they waited 6 hours as the waves were too big for them to make a safe exit. Upon seeing the lifeboat and the waves having subsided they made their way out and onto the road and met with the Coastguard team.

Liam Colquhoun, Watch Manager Belfast said:

We are pleased that the two men have been located. They have declined any medical treatment and have gone home.

The two men had done the correct thing in making sure that a shore contact knew when they were due to return from undertaking their activity. 

If you see someone in trouble at sea or on the coast, Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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