BELFAST COASTGUARD LOCATE TWO MISSING MEN

Belfast Coastguard were contacted in the early hours of this morning by the police, following a call they had received from a concerned hotel proprietor whose two male occupants had gone out walking in the Ballycastle area and had not returned.
The two men, from America, were expected back at their holiday residence yesterday afternoon. When they had still not been seen or heard from late into the evening, the Coastguard was called by the police and asked to co-ordiante a search of the area.
Coastguard Rescue Teams from Ballycastle and Colraine were dispatched to the Ballycastle area and the Irish Coastguard Rescue helicopter was scrambled to look for the two men.
After almost 4 hours of searching, the two men were located at Fairhead, they were both airlifted by the Rescue helicopter and transferred into the care of the ambulance service to be treated for the cold temperatures which they had been subjected to and for minor cuts and bruises.
Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager Ian Murdock said
The search conditions on scene tonight were westerly force 4 to 5 winds, but fortunately for these casualties the storms affecting the rest of the UK tonight have not been so severe in this area.
These men were well equipped and had informed people of their plans which meant that when they did not return the correct authorities were alerted.

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