Bundoran RNLI lifeboat in County Donegal came to the aid of a fisherman on Wednesday, 24 April after their 6m open-top fishing boat sustained engine failure approximately half a mile from the pier at the lifeboat station.
The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat shortly before 11 a.m. after the casualty raised the alarm when the boat’s engine failed close to rocks.
The lifeboat, helmed by Elliot Kearns and with crew members Finn Mullen, Fergal Muller, and Mark Vaughan onboard, launched at 10:51 a.m. and made its way the short distance to the scene.
The weather was blowing a northerly force 2 wind at the time, the sea was calm and there was good visibility.
Arriving on scene, the crew observed that the fisherman was wearing a lifejacket and had all the correct gear with him. However, as his engine had failed and the boat was close to rocks, the crew, having assessed the situation, deemed an alongside tow was essential, and they proceeded to bring the casualty safely back to the nearby pier wall.
Speaking following the call out, Daimon Fergus, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘We would like to commend the casualty for wearing his lifejacket and for raising the alarm when he knew he couldn’t make safe progress".