Galway's Arun uses inflatable to snatch skin divers to safety from surfCoxswain Padraig Dillane and Crew Members Seamus Flaherty and Mairtin Fitzpatrick of the Galway Bay lifeboat have been accorded the Thanks of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution inscribed on Vellum following the rescue of two skin-divers in winds up to Force 10, shallow water and very heavy seas on 14 August 1989. The lifeboat's small 'Y' class inflatable was launched to reach the divers despite the severe conditions.In his official report of the service Mr Jeff Mankertz, divisional inspector for lifeboats in Ireland, paid tribute to Coxswain Dillane's 'skill, seamanship and good sense' and to the 'courage and skill of crew members Flaherty and Fitzpatrick in the ' Y' boat in horrendous seas.' For their part in the rescue, Mechanic Bartly Mullen and Crew Members Michael Gill and David Beatty were awarded Vellum Service Certificates.

The first news of the incident came at 1130on 14 August 1989, when Mr Coley Hernon, Galway Bay station honorary secretary, was informed by MRCC Shannon that two skindivers were in the water at Doolin, Co Clare and could not get ashore due to heavy seas and a strong tidal stream.

The crew pagers were activated and Galway Bay's 52ft Arun class lifeboat^oy and Barbara Harding slipped her moorings at 1155. With Coxswain Padraig Dillane at the helm, the lifeboat made for Doolin, and at 1225, as the lifeboat approached Doolin Point, the coxswain was guided to the casualties by flares fired by a shore party.

Lights on the divers' hats could be seen, less than 500 yards offshore, and being swept north in sharply shoaling water.

The wind was west of south, Force 9 to 10, with a swell of 25ft to 30ft and waves up to 20ft high. Severe squalls so badly affected visibility that a helicopter sent from Shannon was forced to land at Doolin.

Coxswain Dillane was well aware that this area of the coast shoaled rapidly and this was confirmed by echo sounder readings which fell quickly from 120ft to 17ft. A heavy squall reduced visibility still further and obscured the radar to the extent that the coxswain prudently decided to heave-to until it had passed.

Taking into account the shoals and the very heavy seas, Coxswain Dillane decided not to risk the lifeboat so close in shore and .decided to launch the small inflatable 'Y' boat, manned by crew members Seamus Flaherty and Mairtin Fitzpatrick, to cover the 50 yards to the divers.

Riding on the back of a wave, the ' Y' boat reached and recovered the casualties. Seamus Flaherty manoeuvred the 'Y' boat skilfully back to the lifeboat in very heavy seas and the casualties were brought aboard and the inflatable was recovered, with some difficulty.

The divers were in a very poor condition having been in the water for more than 4 hours and required prompt medical attention.

As visibility improved, the helicopter was able to airlift the casualties from the lifeboat to hospital in Galway, where they subsequently recovered.

The lifeboat returned through heavy seas to Kilronan and was refuelled and ready for service once more by 1430..