Three overboard FOLLOWING reports of three men overboard from a motor boat off Bangor Harbour, Belfast Coastguard alerted the honorary secretary of Bangor lifeboat station at 1849 on July 21, 1987 and the station's D class inflatable lifeboat launched at 1900, with Des Hanna and Ronald Whyte on board.

On arrival at the scene, one man in the water was found to be close to drowning.

Leaving the other two men in the care of Ballyholme Yacht Club rescue boat, which also attended, the lifeboat took the third survivor to the beach at speed, at the same time summoning the assistance of an ambulance.

With the aid of the honorary secretary, Mr G L D Ralston, the casualty was transferred to the slipway where first aid was rendered with the aid of a local doctor until the ambulance arrived.

There is no doubt that but for the speed and urgency with which this service was conducted, the casualty would have lost his life..