Four lifebelts thrown into River Foyle

Foyle Search & Rescue have warned those who threw four life belts into the River Foyle at the weekend that they could have put lives at risk.
By Brendan McDaid
Published 25th Aug 2020, 08:06 BST
A workman places the housing for a lifebelt on the railings of the Peace Bridge in Derry back in 2011.A workman places the housing for a lifebelt on the railings of the Peace Bridge in Derry back in 2011.
A workman places the housing for a lifebelt on the railings of the Peace Bridge in Derry back in 2011.

The incident was the latest in a spate of vandalism incidents which have seen people tampering with the life-saving flotation devices located along the quay.

Foyle Search & Rescue said: “On Saturday August 22 at 06:17am four life belts along the river Foyle were tampered with. They were thrown into the water with one carried away in the current. This resulted in the PSNI having to activate our Emergency Response Team to retrieve and reactivate all four life rings. This was done via Jet ski and shore crews with the assistance of CCTV and PSNI.

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“Life belts have been activated multiple times recently at several locations resulting in successful rescues and lives being saved.

“Foyle Search & Rescue charity would appeal to the public, if anyone observes these lifesaving devices being tampered with in any way please notify the PSNI as soon as possible on the non-emergency number 101.

“Life belts are located all along the River Foyle for the public’s safety and we appreciate that members of the public have conducted fundraising over the years to purchase extra lifebuoys.”