The Portrush lifeboat got into difficulty while attempting to rescue three people whose boat was in danger.
After several attempts to throw a line to the stricken boat, the RNLB Katie Hannan was forced onto rocks by a heavy swell.
Despite the efforts of a fishing vessel and the Larne lifeboat, the stranded lifeboat could not be moved.
The three people who the lifeboat had gone to assist were rescued by the Rathlin Island Coastguard crew.
Two of the lifeboat crew on the Katie Hannan were thrown into the water from its small inflatable rescue boat after assisting in the attempts to refloat the boat. They managed to climb onto nearby rocks.
RNLI Head of Coastal Management George Rollinson said on Thursday it was important for the vessel to be freed soon.
Source: BBC
