Heroic Rescue on Ardglass Cliffs Saves 11-Year-Old Girl
Drama unfolded on Sunday afternoon when an 11-year-old girl slipped onto a dangerous cliff ledge at Ardglass Golf Club, precariously perched above a 30-metre drop.
Rapid Response By Coastguard Teams
HM Coastguard sprang into action after a 999 call. Rescue teams from Newcastle, Kilkeel, and Portaferry, along with the Portaferry RNLI lifeboat, rushed to the scene. Specialists set up rope rescue equipment and hauled the girl safely back to the top, reuniting her with relieved family members. Miraculously, she needed no medical treatment.
Second Rescue: Public Helper Gets Stuck
The drama didn’t end there. Coastguard officers had to return to the cliff to recover a brave member of the public who tried to climb up from the bottom to assist the girl but got caught in the treacherous terrain.
Coastguard Praise Quick-Thinking Bystander
Norman Bridges from Belfast Coastguard Operations Centre said, “A member of the public reacted quickly on seeing the accident and did the right thing by immediately calling 999 for the Coastguard. All in all – a great job by everyone involved. If you see someone in difficulty at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
This incident is a stark reminder: never attempt risky rescues yourself. Leave it to the pros and dial 999 immediately.
