At noon on 23rd August, 1967, a doctor informed the honorary secretary that a 17-year-old boy with acute appendicitis on Irishmaan island had to be brought to the mainland. As no other boatwas available, the life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson slipped her moorings at 12.45.

There was a gentle south westerly breeze and a smooth sea. The tide was ebbing.

The life-boat proceeded to Irishmaan and embarked the sick boy. He was landed at Rossaveel where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital. The lifeboat returned to her station at 5.30..