False alarm for lifeboat

Fri, 08 Sep 2017

Ramsey lifeboat crew was called out after Belfast Coastguard received an emergency distress signal.

The team was dispatched Wednesday lunchtime in response to an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon transmitted along the east coast of the Isle of Man.

50 minutes after leaving the lifeboat was dispatched, the coastguard established that the distress signal had been set off by accident, allowing the lifeboat crew to return to the station.

The RNLI says EPIRB signals usually indicate a vessel is in serious distress, and stresses that it's important to regularly check that they are in working order.