Lifeboat crew member in sea as fishing vessel sinks suddenly Frank Home, a crew member aboard Peel's Mersey class lifeboat Ruby Clcry, has been awarded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum following a service to a sinking fishing vessel on 17 October 1994.

In his report on the service Andrew Clift, the deputy inspector of lifeboats for Ireland division (which includes stations on the Isle of Man) remarked on crew member Home's courage in boarding the sinking casualty and for the personal risks taken while on board and helping three men from a very dangerous position just 30 seconds before the vessel sank.Ruin/ Clcry had been launched at 1114 after reports that the fishing vessel Three Sisters with three crew members aboard was sinking 20 miles north west of Peel.

An RAF helicopter was first on the scene, and the winch-man was put aboard the casualty with a salvage pump. HMS Blachvater was the next vessel to arrive and she put another four men and more pumps aboard. Another RAF helicopter arrived a short while later and landed her winch-man aboard Three Sisters. One of the fishing vessel's crew of three was taken off and put aboard HMS Blackuwter.

Drifting Peel lifeboat arrived at 1306 in a SE Force 5 wind, which although moderating had kicked up a swell more than 6ft high. The fishing boat was by now very low in the water and drifting beam-on to the sea. Of the three pumps on board the casualty only one - in the engine room and tended by the trawler skipper - was working satisfactorily. One had failed to start and the suction hose of the third was continually being blocked by debris in the fish hold.

After circling the casualty, Coxswain Eames decided to put crewman Frank Home aboard Three Sisters to assess the situation and help with communications.

Crewman Home is a professional fisherman and was familiar with the Peel-based casualty and her crew. Coxswain Eames approached the casualty's stern and successfully transferred Crewman Home - wearing a dry suit and lifejacket - at the first attempt.

To reduce the casualty's motion, and so help keep the suction hose in the fish hold free of debris, the lifeboat passed a tow and cautiously started to bring Three Sisters head-to-sea. But suddenly, at 1321,the fishing boat rolled onto her starboard side and started to sink by the stern.

Coxswain Eames immediately gave the order to cut the tow line.

Crew member Home had been partly in the fish hold helping to keep the pump suction hose clear but managed to scramble up to the port rail, noticing that three men were now trapped on the lower, starboard side and unable to climb up to the port rail because of the large list and the 6ft seas. There was a real danger of them being sucked into the fish hold orbeing trapped in the rigging as the boat sank.

Crew Member Home was able to help to pull them to safety, and all nine men now on board the casualty (the two helicopter winch-men, four naval personnel, one lifeboatman and two survivors) jumped in to the water. Three Sisters sank within about 30 seconds and the men in the water were picked up by inflatables from HMS Blackivater.

Crew member Home was put back aboard the lifeboat with the three survivors, who were given dry clothing and treated for shock and hypothermia, while the two winch-men were returned to their respectiveaircraft and the lifeboat headed back to station..