FIVE people in an inflatable dinghy had to be rescued by Troon RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews at the weekend.

The Coastguard received a distress call at 3.25pm informing them that the boat’s outboard motor had broken down and two adults and three children were drifting offshore from Prestwick in a strengthening wind. 

The inflatable was quickly located 1.5 miles offshore of Prestwick beach and all the occupants were safely transferred inland with the dinghy by an all-weather lifeboat.

They were checked over by the crews and trained onboard first aiders.
Despite difficulties with language problems, it was established that all five occupants of the inflatable were cold and wet but appeared to be in good spirits.

They were warmed up and later transferred to the D Class inshore lifeboat to be taken ashore to members of the HM Coastguard Ayr team who were already waiting to look after them and deal with the inflatable.

Duty Coxswain Brian Hedges said: “We have to respect the water, this could so easily have turned into a disaster and thanks to the combined, co-ordinated rescue by the volunteer lifeboat crews and HM Coastguard Ayr team, it all turned out well in the end.”