Arranmore, Co. Donegal - At 6.30 p.m. on 2nd February, 1970, the local doctor told the honorary secretary that a man on Innisbofin island was seriously ill and required hospital treatment on the mainland.

The life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson, on temporary duty at the station, slipped her moorings at 7.15 in a storm force north westerly wind with a very rough sea. It was two hours before low water. The lifeboat reached Innisbofin at 11.30 but the high seas made it impossible to embark the sick man. She made passage to the lee of the island and dropped anchor. Continuing high winds delayed the embarkation of the patient until 5 p.m. on the following day. He was landed at Burtonport suffering from acute appendicitis. The life-boat returned to her station at 11 p.m. A letter of thanks was received from the local parish priest, and because this lengthy service was carried out in very severe weather conditions additional monetary awards were made to the life-boat crew..