West Cork lifeboat crew come to the rescue of 26ft fishing boat in poor conditions

Crew members from Courtmacsherry RNLI this morning came to the aid of a 26ft fishing and pleasure boat after it got into difficulty at sea.

The station’s all-weather lifeboat the ‘Val Adnams’ was called out by Valentia Coast Guard marine rescue co-ordination centre at 11.35am to go to the immediate aid of the vessel which had got into difficulties off Clonakilty Bay.

The lifeboat under coxswain Tadgh McCarthy and a crew of five assembled quickly and were away from their moorings at 11.45am.

Conditions at sea today were described as poor, with winds blowing force five and gusts up to 50km reported.

The causality vessel was located at 12.10pm approximately 2km off the Inchydoney Island headland and, as the winds were strong and a danger posed by strong running tides, a decision was made to take the causality in tow.

When in calmer waters, two members of the lifeboat crew were put on board the fishing vessel to assist the skipper.

The lifeboat arrived back to the safe surrounds of Courtmacsherry pier at 2.45pm, with the lone crewman said to be delighted to be in safe territory again.

“Thankfully the causality this morning sought help quickly by contacting Bandon Gardaí when he got into difficulties, as the winds at sea were strong today,” Courtmacsherry lifeboat launch authority and press officer, Vincent O’Donovan, said.

Mr O’Donovan stressed the importance of calling 999 or 112 to seek help if in difficulty and said he hoped that all users of the coastline stay safe  this coming June bank holiday weekend with fine weather forecasted.

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat crew on this morning’s callout were coxswain Tadgh McCarthy, mechanic Stuart Russell and crew members Kieran Boyle, Chris Guy, Dave Philips and Dean Hennessey.

For crewman Chris Guy, who recently received of a 30 year long service award, it’s been an eventful week as this time last week he was one of the Courtmacsherry station’s representatives at the 200 anniversary garden party in Buckingham Palace hosted by the Royal Family.