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Lough Swilly RNLI rescue fishermen
in storm force conditions
16.12.19
LOUGH Swilly, Portrush
and Arranmore RNLI volunteers spent almost 15 hours
at sea in storm force conditions at the weekend to
rescue five fishermen who got into difficulty off
Fanad Head. Lough Swilly and Portrush RNLI were
requested to launch their all-weather lifeboats by
Belfast Coastguard at 2.15pm on Saturday (14
December) following a Mayday alert from a 45ft
fishing boat.
The five men who had been fishing for crab got into
difficulty 20 miles north of Fanad Head. The boat
lost power and encountered steering difficulties
while violent waves smashed the wheelhouse windows
in.
Lough Swilly RNLI volunteers launched their
all-weather lifeboat and started their 90-minute
journey to the scene some 34 nautical miles from
their station. Portrush RNLI meanwhile, had 50
nautical miles to travel. Weather conditions at the
time were extremely challenging with the volunteers
facing Force 9-10 gales and sea swells of 50ft.
Arranmore RNLI was requested to launch shortly after
at 4pm. |
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Once on scene, Lough
Swilly RNLI’s lifeboat crew assessed the situation
and checked that the five crew were safe and well.
The fishermen were cold, tired and shaken from the
severity of the weather conditions but were
otherwise in good health. Due to the challenging
conditions, the decision was made to leave the crew
onboard their boat rather than transfer them to the
lifeboat. The lifeboat crew worked with the
fishermen to establish a tow but despite attempts,
the tow parted on three ocassions in the storm. On
arrival Arranmore RNLI’s lifeboat took over the tow
and brought the vessel back into the mouth of Lough
Swilly where the tow was transferred to Lough
Swilly’s lifeboat to allow Arranmore’s RNLI’s crew
make the three and half hour return trip back to
their station in heavy seas.
Speaking following the call out, Joe Joyce, Lough
Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘This was
an extremely challenging call out for all the RNLI
volunteers involved and we are delighted that the
five fishermen were brought safely back to shore.
‘Our lifeboats launched in dangerous weather
conditions on Saturday afternoon and our volunteers,
twenty in all, spent almost 15 hours at sea, most of
it in the hours of darkness. They faced gale force
conditions and 50ft swells but with great courage,
selflessness and teamwork they successfully met and
overcame those challenges to bring the fishermen to
safety.
‘While challenging for our crews, this call out was
a huge testament to the level of training RNLI
volunteers undergo. Lifeboat crew members are highly
trained and skilled to carry out such challenging
work and thanks to the generosity of the public, we
are provided with the best of equipment and
technology to save lives at sea.’ |
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