Six fishermen saved by crew member in open fishing boatEamonn O'Leary, a member of Dun Laoghaire's All-weather lifeboat crew, has been awarded the Institution's Thanks inscribed on Vellum for a rescue which he carried out singlehanded in his own 18ft open boat.In his official report the divisional inspector of' Jifeboar.s for Ireland. Peter Bradley.

said: 'Mr O'Leary picked up six survivors from the waters of the Dalkey Sound, which are well known for strong currents and confused seas with wind over tide such as experienced here. His assessment of the situation and his subsequent actions to rescue the survivors, particularly his skill in handlinghis boat and his first aid treatment of the survivors, is worthy of note.' At about 1930 on 7 August 1990 Eamonn O'Leary was fishing from his boat just inside the southern edge of Dalkey Sound, southeast of Dun Laoghaire lifeboat station, when he noticed that a smaller boat which had bee about three-quarters of a mile away, was r longer to be seen.

Although the wind was only SW Force the sea was choppy, with the wind across th sea and creating confused waves about 3f high.

Sensing that something was wrong, hi made for the position to find a capsized 15f open boat still made fast to her anchor. Twcpeople were clinging to the boat, and one of them indicated that four other people had become separated from the boat, among them a young boy.

Exhausted The two clinging to the boat were in no immediate danger so O'Leary headed for the four others who could be seen in the water.

Two of them seemed to be supporting each other in the water and he moved on to the other pair, one of which was the young boy who was in some difficulty. O'Leary manoeuvred alongside the boy and lifted him into the boat and then picked up the second man, who was exhausted from keeping himself afloat - as none of the casualties were wearing lifejackets.

Returning to the other couple in the water he found one now unconscious and incapable of supporting himself. His companion shouted that the other had suffered a heart attack, and O'Leary quickly went alongside to lift the unconscious man aboard. The fourth man was then recovered, also very exhausted from supporting his friend.

The unconscious man had a very weak pulse and was breathing weakly so O'Leary made him as comfortable as possible in the bottom of his boat and returned in the direction of the capsized boat. On the way the engine stalled when the propeller fouled a leather jacket in the water, but this was quickly cleared by cutting it away.

When he reached the capsized dinghy O'Leary hauled the final two survivors aboard. By now the boat had only a few inches of freeboard and it took three attempts to get the last one on board, the boat shipping water as she listed heavily.

Alarm With all six now on board O'Leary checked their condition and concluded that all were exhausted and cold, and that one had probably suffered a heart attack.

With the flood tide behind him O'Leary headed for the nearest land, where he knew he would be able to raise the alarm.

Reaching Coliemore harbour at about 2030 he sent the strongest survivor to the public telephone to call an ambulance, which arrived some minutes later to take all six survivors to hospital in Dun Laoghaire, and then returned to harbour to report the rescue to the station honorary secretary..