Courtmacsherry RNLI rescues three fishermen after boat gets into difficulty
Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat, Frederick Storey Cockburn, was called out at 10.40am yesterday morning (Tuesday 4 October) to go to help three people on a 70ft fishing boat which sought assistance as it got into difficulties 22 miles off shore, south east of the Old Head of Kinsale.
Under Coxswain Sean O Farrell and a crew of five, the lifeboat was underway quickly and immediately made its way to the area of the casualty to assess the situation. The distress alarm was raised by the fishing vessel's crew with the Coast Guard Marine Co-Ordinating rescue centre in Valentia, when they fouled their propellers and became disabled while trawling in the area.
The lifeboat located the casualty at 11.50am and a tow rope was immediately attached in order to secure the fishing vessel in lumpy seas with a strong wind blowing and a 3m swell. Having assessed the situation, a decision was made to tow the boat which had three crew on board, to the nearest port of Kinsale.
The lifeboat then proceeded to tow the large stricken boat at low speed back to the safe surrounds of Kinsale Harbour and was successfully docked at the local Pier at 6pm.
Commenting on the call out, Philip White, Courtmacsherry RNLI Deputy Launching Authority praised all the crew for carrying out the rescue so professionally: 'It is ironic that our crew was involved in a long eight hour rescue today, at the same time that the station's new Shannon class lifeboat came off the production line in Poole and the traditional bell ringing ceremony was held'.
The crew on board today call out were Coxswain Sean O'Farrell, mechanic Dave Philips and crew members Pat Lawton, Tadgh McCarthy, Evin O'Sullivan and Gearoid O'Donovan.
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