Four men and three dogs rescued by emergency services - ‘men were waist deep in the water and the dogs were paddling by the time they were reached’

It has emerged that the incident unfolded on the Co Londonderry river qround 6pm yesterday (Saturday).

A major coastguard operation was staged, led by the Belfast Coastguard, and including teams from Coleraine, Ballycastle, Greencastle, and Portrush.

The men were waist deep in the water and the dogs were paddling by the time they were reached.

Also included in the rescue operation was the coastguard helicopter sent from Prestrick in Scotland.

The men had been cut off by an incoming tide on mud flats at the mouth of the River Roe in Lough Foyle.

Writing on Facebook, the Coleraine Coastguard said it had been “great team work in action”.

The post said: “Coleraine Team tasked to 4 wild fowlers with 3 dogs cut off by incoming tide on mud flats at the mouth of the River Roe in Lough Foyle.”

They added that “the casualties and their dogs were recovered safely to the shore by Greencastle CG D Class boat,

It added: “Helo199 and Coleraine CG mud rescue team all working together. Great team work in action. Earlier in the day, Coleraine and Ballycastle rope rescue teams had been deployed to a vulnerable person on cliff edge at Whiterocks Portrush. Thankfully both callouts had a good outcome.”

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