SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - RTE News are reporting that the Portrush lifeboat was thrown onto rocks by a large wave as its crew attended an emergency call last night. It was stuck there on high ground as the tide went out. They attempted to get it off today but without luck.

The RNLI has suspended an effort to free a lifeboat which became grounded overnight near Rathlin Island off the Co Antrim coast. The operation will resume tomorrow after a failed attempt by a tug boat from Derry to free the vessel at high tide today.

Severn Class Lifeboat, this is seriously expensive machinery (boat specs). RNLI have a detailed report on their own site.

The three people who were at the centre of the rescue attempt were safely assisted to the shore by the Rathlin Island Coastguard team.

The Irish examiner reports…

Two of the lifeboat crew were thrown into the water from the lifeboat’s small inflatable boat after assisting in the attempts to refloat the all-weather lifeboat. They both managed to scramble ashore safely.

But I’ve no other reports of this.

-Robin-

(Image Credit: RTE News, BBC News, RNLI)