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| Ballycastle: Children stable after being swept out to sea | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Three children have been rescued from the water in Ballycastle, County Antrim, after being spotted by a member of the public. | Three children have been rescued from the water in Ballycastle, County Antrim, after being spotted by a member of the public. |
| The Coastguard said the boy and two girls were paddling in a small river when they lost their footing and got swept out into the sea. | The Coastguard said the boy and two girls were paddling in a small river when they lost their footing and got swept out into the sea. |
| The children are believed to be from Ballycastle and aged 10, 11 and 12. | The children are believed to be from Ballycastle and aged 10, 11 and 12. |
| Nat Hunter, from Ballyvoy, was walking on the beach with his wife when he saw the children in the water. | Nat Hunter, from Ballyvoy, was walking on the beach with his wife when he saw the children in the water. |
| Mr Hunter told BBC News NI: "We saw the children playing in the mouth of the river where it meets the sea. | Mr Hunter told BBC News NI: "We saw the children playing in the mouth of the river where it meets the sea. |
| "But when we came back they had got caught up in the current of the river and been pushed out to sea. | "But when we came back they had got caught up in the current of the river and been pushed out to sea. |
| "They had started to panic and get stressed out, so I went to get the buoyancy aid up on the beach and went out to them. | "They had started to panic and get stressed out, so I went to get the buoyancy aid up on the beach and went out to them. |
| "I threw the ring out to the child who was furthest away, about 50m out. | "I threw the ring out to the child who was furthest away, about 50m out. |
| "It was two little girls and a boy." | |
| Mr Hunter was helped by another man to bring the children to safety. | Mr Hunter was helped by another man to bring the children to safety. |
| "When we left the coastguard was with them and the ambulance had just arrived," he said. | "When we left the coastguard was with them and the ambulance had just arrived," he said. |
| "I think they were alright, but they are bound to have been freezing and a bit shook up." | "I think they were alright, but they are bound to have been freezing and a bit shook up." |
| The Coastguard said they were called by a member of the public at about 20:30 BST on Wednesday. | The Coastguard said they were called by a member of the public at about 20:30 BST on Wednesday. |
| "The current was strong and would have taken them out," said a spokesperson. | "The current was strong and would have taken them out," said a spokesperson. |
| The children were all taken to the Causeway Hospital and are in a stable condition. | The children were all taken to the Causeway Hospital and are in a stable condition. |