20/08/2004

Coastguard rescue boy swept away in dinghy

The coastguard in Co Down has rescued a 7-year-old boy today after he was swept out to sea in his inflatable dinghy.

The child was playing in a yellow rubber inflatable in Murlough Bay when it was caught by a strong offshore wind.

The incident occurred at around 3pm on Friday however the boy was rescued within 10 minutes after an inshore lifeboat was launched.

Local RNLI spokesman Patrick Pinkerton says that with the change in the weather and the stronger winds, holidaymakers needed to take more care on the beach.

"There is a force 3-4 wind blowing offshore and but for the lifeboat we could have had a tragedy.”

(MB)

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