Three people had to be rescued from a broken down boat off the coast of Co Antrim in the early hours of Sunday.
Portrush RNLI was requested to launch its all-weather lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 1.26am this morning following reports of a small motor cruiser with three people onboard that had broken down approximately one mile off Ballycastle.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 3am in what was the third launch for the crew within 24 hours.
Read more: Teenage girl rescued from sea after getting into difficulty at Co Antrim beach
By the time the lifeboat and the volunteer crew had located the small boat, the tide had pulled her east and she was in line between Rue Point (Rathlin Island) and Torr Head.
Once on scene, the crew risk assessed the situation and a decision was made to attach a towline to the boat and the crew started a slow tow to Ballycastle Harbour.
The crew left Ballycastle Harbour at 3.40am and arrived home at 4.40am. After refuelling the lifeboat was back on her moorings at 4.55am, and the crew headed home for an early breakfast.
Speaking following the call out, Johnny Weston, Deputy Coxswain at Portrush RNLI said: "Because of the size of the motor cruiser, we had to make sure it was a sure steady tow back to Ballycastle Harbour, but it was a beautiful morning and sea conditions were good.
"The crew of the small boat did the right thing in alerting the Coastguard especially as the tide had started to pull them Eastwards. This was the third launch for our all-weather within a 24-hour period."
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