17-07-2025
Late night emergency response in search for missing person
Police, the coastguard and the RNLI were all involved in a search for a missing person last night, Wednesday, July 16.
A multi-agency response was launched last night after a person was reported missing.
Volunteers from the RNLI in Girvan and Stranraer were called out shortly before 7.40pm to join the police, coastguard and Galloway Mountain Rescue in the search.
Lifeboat crews were tasked with searching an area from Ballantrae to Loch Ryan in a bid to find the person.
Multiple Coastguard Rescue Teams alongside police and the police helicopter searched onshore while the lifeboats combed the coastline.
Shortly before midnight, the Coastguard's Rescue 199 helicopter departed Prestwick Airport to join the search.
However, within minutes of the helicopter taking off, good news was received as the person has been traced.
A spokesperson for Girvan RNLI said: "At 7.39pm on Wednesday, July 16, Girvan's volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard to assist in a multi agency search for a missing person.
"With our crew assembling at the lifeboat station, information received was to head South and begin searching at Ballantrae towards the Loch Ryan area.
"Our all-weather Shannon Class Lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan' was soon leaving her berth and heading down the coast to join our colleagues from Stranraer RNLI Lifeboat who were paged earlier in the evening.
"Once on scene both lifeboats were completing sweeps of the shoreline and water from Ballantrae right round past Cairnryan and up the opposite side of the loch and round and further South.
"Multiple searches were completed into darkness using spotlights and night vision equipment, all whilst multiple Coastguard Rescue Teams searched the shore and other areas along with officers from Police Scotland, who earlier had searched areas with the police helicopter .
"With darkness now well and truly here, Coastguard helicopter Rescue 199 had left Prestwick and was heading South to join us in the search.
"Within moments of this, further information was received that the person had been located by police and Coastguard teams.
"Given this, all assets were stood down, ourselves and Stranraer RNLI headed for home. Girvan Lifeboat arrived back on station around 12.15am in the early hours of Thursday morning where our crew then got the boat washed and refuelled before they could head home to their beds.
"If you see or believe someone to be in trouble at sea or along our coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard."
Stranraer RNLI duty launch authority Antony Simpson said: 'This was a strong example of teamwork across agencies. Our RNLI volunteers from Stranraer and Girvan showed great dedication as always, responding quickly and professionally to support the search.'
