Child taken to hospital after marina incident

A distressing incident occurred near the Carrickfergus Marina in County Antrim, where a boat capsized involving a group of nine children and one adult. Emergency services, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Fire and Rescue Service, and the Maritime and Coastguard, responded swiftly to the scene. Upon arrival, they found several individuals in the water and others clinging to the upturned hull of the boat. The situation was assessed, and initial treatment was provided on-site. One child was subsequently transported by ambulance to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for further medical evaluation, while the remaining individuals were discharged at the scene after being deemed safe and well, albeit cold and shaken from the experience.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) reported that their team arrived at approximately 21:00 BST and found a chaotic scene where some members of the group were still in the water. They emphasized that although the children and adult appeared frightened and cold, they were otherwise unharmed. This incident highlights the potential dangers associated with boating activities, particularly for young children, and underscores the importance of safety measures while on the water. Authorities are likely to conduct further investigations to understand the circumstances that led to the capsizing and to ensure the safety of future boating excursions in the area.