Wednesday 8^th December 2004 20.30 

Two Fishermen saved as boat sinks

Two fishermen had a narrow escape when the boat they were fishing sank suddenly off the West Cork coast this afternoon. The men spent 25 minutes in the water before being plucked to safety.

The drama unfolded shortly after midday when the Bantry based 30’ wooden half decker “Mary Eileen” sank suddenly off Sheep’s Head. The skipper managed to transmit a Mayday call just prior to being immersed in the water. Valentia Coastguard Radio immediately tasked Castletownbere Lifeboat, Goleen Coastguard Unit, the Shannon based Sikorsky rescue helicopter, and all other vessels in the area to assist.

The fishermen, both in their twenties, were wearing lifejackets and started swimming for shore and had spent 25 minutes in the water before being picked up by the vessel “Gabriella” which was fishing nearby.

The Castletownbere lifeboat, under Coxswain B. O’Driscoll and with crew B. Gonnelly, M. O’Donoghue, M. Murphy, and D. Murphy, was on scene in moderate conditions ten minutes later. A lifeboat crew member was transferred onto the “Gabriella” to administer first aid and prepare both survivors for transfer to the lifeboat. Once the two men were on board the RNLI “Annette Hutton”, they were brought to Castletownbere where they received medical attention and they were discharged shortly afterwards.

Castletownbere lifeboat has responded to 32 emergencies so far this year and has saved a total of 28 lives since it was established in 1997. The RNLI exists to save lives at sea and depends entirely on voluntary contributions to provide a 24 hour search and rescue service off our coastline.  

ENDS

Wednesday 8^th December 2004 20.30