Lifeboat crew from Arranmore RNLI were involved in a 26-hour rescue mission to bring five people onboard a fishing vessel to safety.

The vessel got into difficulty 48 miles off Arranmore on Sunday evening.

After receiving the emergency call at 10.50pm on Sunday evening the crew finally got to their beds at 1.20am on Tuesday morning following the dramatic rescue.

“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,” said a spokesperson for the Arranmore RNLI.

“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 crewmember 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.

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

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

 ‘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.’

 The crew for this service were, Jimmy Early – Cox, John McHugh – Mechanic, Seán O’Donnell, Brian Proctor, Jamie Neeson, Sharon O’Donnell and Finbar Gallagher.