Five brought ashore after dramatic 26-hour rescue mission off Donegal coast

Five people were rescued off the Donegal coast in a dramatic operation lasting over 26 hours.

Their fishing vessel encountered difficulty on Sunday evening 48 miles north of Arranmore.

The Arranmore RNLI was tasked by the Malin Head Coast Guard at 10.50pm on Sunday and spent over 26 hours at sea.

In challenging conditions for the lifeboat crew, with swells of up to five and half metres and winds of up to 60kph, a decision was taken, when on scene, that the safest option would be to establish a tow to bring the fishing vessel to a suitable safe port. 

“Seven lifeboat crew left their homes on the Sunday evening and didn’t return home until the early hours of Tuesday morning,” said Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Jimmy Early.

“Behind them all are loved ones and employers who let us do this work and to whom we are very grateful.

“The conditions were not ideal for such a long shout, particularly establishing a tow miles out to sea, in darkness, and where the vessels were pitching up and down in the high waves.

“One of our lifeboat crew had to throw a line across to the casualty vessel and did so successfully  on the first attempt.”

A tow had already been attempted with another vessel in the area but it was unsuccessful, with the ropes breaking. With the casualty vessel and lifeboat both pitching in the huge waves, a lifeboat crew member successfully threw a rope onto the deck of the fishing vessel and a line was established.

Arranmore RNLI took the vessel back to Rathmullen pier in Donegal, at a speed of 1.2 to 3 knots.

After a long journey in difficult conditions the Arranmore lifeboat crew were met in Rathmullen by their colleagues from Lough Swilly RNLI, who provided them with warm food before they embarked on the final leg of their journey home.

This was the second callout over the St. Bridget’s bank holiday weekend for Arranmore RNLI. They launched to carry out a medical evacuation from the island earlier on the Sunday, bringing a casualty to Burtonport, where an ambulance met them.

Mr Early said: “I am extremely grateful to the lifeboat crew who come out in all weathers, whatever the call and who give their time and expertise to bring loved ones home. Thankfully for such a long time at sea, it ended successfully.”