Ballycotton RNLI rescued four crew members from a 14-metre fishing vessel that began taking on water some three miles south of Ballycotton Island on Friday afternoon (7 August).
The lifeboat crew were requested to launch shortly after 4pm by Valentia Coastguard as part of a multi-agency rescue operation involving Ballycotton Coastguard and Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115. It followed an urgent call for assistance from the crew of the fishing vessel.
Ballycotton’s all-weather Trent-class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, was launched at 4.16pm. Favourable conditions, with a slight south-westerly wind of Force 1–2 and excellent visibility, enabled the lifeboat to make good time to the casualty vessel.
On arrival, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and deputy coxswain Eolan Breathnach was able to bring The Austin Lidbury alongside the fishing vessel.
Volunteer crew member Mike Kenneally then boarded the fishing boat as part of a controlled, slow-speed transfer, carrying RNLI emergency salvage pumping equipment.
Rescue 115 also arrived on scene and remained on standby to assist if required.
The fishing crew had already deployed their emergency life raft, and the RNLI crew member was directed below deck to assess the flooding. He quickly set up the salvage pump which, working alongside the vessel’s own bilge pumps, reduced the water levels inside the fishing boat to a manageable level.
Given the vessel’s proximity to Ballycotton Harbour, it was decided to escort it back to harbour under its own power.
During the transfer of the salvage pump, one of the fishing crew slipped and sustained an injury. The incident was relayed to Ballycotton Coastguard, who were standing by at Ballycotton Pier. They contacted the local emergency services, and an ambulance was dispatched to meet the vessel on its return.
The casualty vessel and RNLI lifeboat returned to Ballycotton Harbour at 5.25pm. The fishing boat was secured alongside, and the injured fisherman was transferred ashore for medical attention.
Andy Browne, lifeboat operations manager at Ballycotton RNLI said: “We are grateful to the number of crew who made themselves available and acted quickly to prevent this critical incident from deteriorating further.”
Coxswain Eolan Breathnach was joined on this call-out by volunteer crew members Eolan Walsh (mechanic), Adrian Erangey, Stephen Sloane and Mike Kenneally.
