Boys are rescued off Down coast

Two boys have been rescued after they became stranded on rocks off the County Down coast.

The boys, aged 12 and 14, got into trouble on Wednesday. A member of the public raised the alarm and they were picked up by Donaghadee lifeboat.

The rescue took place just after 2230 BST, about 150 yards off the beach at Millisle on the Ards Peninsula.

The teenagers were stranded on rocks which had been surrounded by the incoming tide.

Boat coxswain Philip McNamara said the teenagers were very lucky.

"I think they were just out having a bit of fun like all children do, just out in low water," he said.

"It was a beautiful, flat, calm evening. They were out hunting for crabs or whatever they were doing, and the tide just caught them."

Mr McNamara pointed out that the tide on that part of the coastline can come in quite quickly.

"I think the water would have got up around their waist, maybe up round their knees, so it would have caused them a bit of stress," he said.

"They were glad to be picked up.

"It's a lesson learned, it's lovely to be beside the seaside, but always keep a wary eye on the tide and always inform people of what you are doing."