One of the most outstanding lifeboat rescues of all time was carried out by Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. The Daunt Rock lightship was torn from her moorings in a February gale. Coxswain Patrick Sliney and the crew of Ballycotton's 51ft Barnett class lifeboat, Mary Stanford, were at sea for the next two days and nights, first standing by the lightship in mountainous seas, rain and sleet, and eventually taking off her crew close-to Daunt Rock itself. In doing so the lifeboat had to run in six times alongside the vessel, each time risking being struck by the lightship as she plunged and rolled. On the final run the remaining two men to come off failed to jump and had to be dragged on board the lifeboat. Coxswain Sliney was awarded the RNLI's gold medal and silver and bronze medals went to his crew at the end of a service which had lasted some 63 hours..