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MLA Justin McNulty has requested an urgent meeting with the Chief of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service after tragedy was narrowly avoided at an incident in Camlough Lake earlier this week. Emergency Services rescued an individual in distress by forcing access to kayaks stored at the lake.
With the nearest Water Rescue personnel based in Belfast, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty is pressing the need for personnel to be trained and stationed in Newry.
Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “This incident at Camlough Lake could have ended in tragedy. I commend the first responders who had the gumption to use their discretion in utilising kayaks to get to the young woman in distress and ensure her safety, but I don’t think we should lose sight of the fact that the lack of Water Rescue Coverage in this area is putting lives at risk.
“The fact that the only people trained, qualified, and authorised to respond to water rescue incidents are based in Belfast is totally unacceptable to me, and I have requested an urgent meeting with the Chief of the NI Fire & Rescue Service to table my concerns with him and push for a Water Rescue Unit to be established in Newry.
SDLP Slieve Gullion Representative Killian Feehan said: “This week’s incident at Camlough Lake has highlighted the alarming lack of coverage in the context of Water Rescue for people in our area. Up until fairly recently, the only Water Rescue team in the North was based in Belfast, until a number of tragic incidents in the North West necessitated the establishment of a Water Rescue Unit in Derry.
“We narrowly avoided tragedy this week only because of the gumption of emergency responders. We should not have to wait for someone to die before action is taken to establish a permanent Water Rescue presence in Newry. People here should have the same access to emergency services as people elsewhere in the North.
