Creyv board boat face danger and tragedy inside cave on Atlantic coast The crew of the Arun stationed at Ballyglass on the exposed north west coast of Ireland faced unusual dangers last October when the lifeboat and her Y-Boat were involved in the rescue of divers who had been trapped inside a cave.

Although three people were saved, one of the casualties and a civilian diver trying to rescue them, lost their lives in the attempt.

The lifeboat was at sea for no less than 21 hours while ten different agencies battled to save the trapped casualties on one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the Irish coast.

The Institution's Bronze Medal was awarded to Ciaran Doyle, a diver from the Garda Siochana and two Thanks on Vellum to civilian divers -one of whom lost his life in the rescue attempts.

Assistant Mechanic John Gaughan and crew member Cathal Reilly spent seven-and-a-half hours inside the cave, constantly at risk from breaking seas, and their seamanship and determination won them framed letters of appreciation from the RNLI's Chairman.

Overdue It was on 25 October 1997 that the Ballyglass Arun, Mabel Williams, was launched just after 1800 to search for a curragh - a traditional 16ft boat built of tarred cloth over a light wooden frame - which had been reported overdue at dusk.

Conditions were quite good as she searched eastward along the north Mayo coast, although a 4ft swell was running under the light easterly wind, without sighting the casualty.

An hour and a half after putting to sea she was hailed by the fishing vessel Sinead, whose crew had heard voices from inside a cave some 18 miles from Ballyglass.

It took the Arun only about ten minutes to reach 'The levels of concentration and seamanship needed to hold the lifeboat six feet from the cliffs for up to four hours in a moderate swell should not be underestimated...' the cave where she stood by outside, while her 11 ft rigid inflatable Y-boat was launched and taken inside the cave by John Gaughan and Cathal Reilly.

Inside, the Y-boat was turned head-to-sea and manoeuvred gently astern until, about 650ft into the cave, the crew heard voices and spotted a number of casualties in the light of their torches sitting on a ledge about 20ft above sea level and another 300ft away, right at the back of the cave.

Difficulties Although conditions outside were quite good, the shape of the cave was creating enormous difficulties inside. It tapered inwards and shallowed for the first 650ft or so and then opened out for the final 300ft towards the casualties' ledge. This meant that the 4ft swell was being funnelled in until it broke - the crest reaching right to the roof of the cave - with the white water then running in towards the ledge where it lapped at the feet of the survivors.

The Y-Boat could not possibly reach the men, so the crew reassured them as best they could and returned to the Arun to report on the situation and conditions. It was now 2025.

Divers would obviously be needed to reach the casualties, so the Guarda first contacted the local GrainneUaile Sub-aqua club and four of their amateur members were brought to the scene by fishing boat and transferred to an IMES (the Irish equivalent of the UK's Coastguard) rescue boat.

The plan was for two divers to swim to the back of the cave with a long line attached to the Arun's inflated liferaft. Once there they intended to haul in the liferaft, load it with the survivors and then for everyone to be pulled back out through the breakers to safety. But as divers Michael Heffernan and Joseph Barrett went in through the breakers they gave the recall signal on their line - and only Joseph was there when it was hauled back in. At this stage the rest of the rescue team thought they could see Michael Heffernan's torch at the back of the cave, although it was later learned that he had lost his life.

Joseph had been badly shaken by his experience and was taken outside to the lifeboat, where it was decided to call on the Garda's professional diving unit based in Dublin, Breakers They were called at 0030, and although they were airlifted to the scene it was 0400 before they were dropped at a nearby pier by helicopter and transferred by Sinead.

In the meantime the Y-Boat, still with crew members Gaughan and Reilly aboard, remained inside the cave, riding each of the breakers as it swept through - by the end of the service they had spent some seven and a half hours inside.

Mabel Williamsand the fishing vessels Sinead, Blath Ban and Pamela Ann spent the waiting time just six feet off the cliffs trying as best they could to illuminate the cave with spotlights.

When the Garda divers arrived they reconnoitred the cave as far as the breakers, before making a decision to wait until daylight when they would attempt to bring the casualties out from the cave.

The plan was to float a breeches buoy from the IMES rescue boat to the back of the cave - but the scheme went badly awry when the boat, manned by Sean McHale and Martin Kavanagh, and Garda divers David Mulhall, Ciaran Doyle and Sean O'Connel - was caught in the break The boat was hurled the 300ft to the back of the cave, landing upside down on the ledge 20ft above sea level. Fortunately the crew and divers were unhurt and, although the engine was wrecked, the portable VHP radio and night vision equipment they were carrying was not damaged.

With communications established, the rescue team learned that one of the casualties and diver Michael Heffernan were dead. There were now eight people trapped at the back of the cave, there was no line to the cave mouth, the IMES rescue boat was engineless inside the cave, the breeches buoy equipment had been lost and outside the lifeboat's Y-Boat was out of action after being punctured earlier.

Swim Inside the cave, Ciaran Doyle decided that there was only one way to get everyone out, and that involved a surface swim with a line the entire length of the cave, through the breakers and outside to the waiting vessels.

To shorten his swim as much as possible Blath San was manoeuvred into the mouth of the cave, lashed stern to stern with Sinead and the lifeboat holding Sinead's bow steady.

Ciaran Doyle began his extremely hazardous swim, carrying 1,000ft of line and taking some 25 minutes before he finally emerged from the darkness.

The next stage was for Blath Santo begin taking the strain on the line which had been attached to the IMES boat. Keeping inclose touch by radio with those inside the cave, the boat was hauled cautiously down from the ledge into the water and then, with the casualties and rescue team aboard, eventually pulled out through the breakers to safety.

Having been in the cave for some 17 hours the casualties were suffering from hypothermia and were landed at Balderig Pier as quickly as possible to be transferred to an ambulance. They have since made a full recovery.

The lifeboat returned to help recover the two bodies before returning to her station after a 21 hour service.

The Lif«bo«t Arun class 52-45 Mabel Williams The cr«w Chairman $ Letter of Appreciation Asst Mechanic John Gaughan Crew member Cathal Reilty Director's Letter of Appreciation Dept 2nd coxswain Gerard Reilly Mechanic Joseph Murray Crew members John Hesion Mairlin Gibbons Allen Murray Surfer saved by D class in appal l|n g conditions Tramore's D class inflatable saved a surfer on 6 June lastyear in conditions which tested both the lifeboat and her crew to the limit.

In conditions which turned out to be outside the recommended limits for the small inflatable the experience and skill of her crew led to the rescue of a surfer and the award of the RNLI's Thanks on Vellum to her helmsman.

It was already close to dusk when the Coastguard alerted the station to the plight of a party of eight surfers, who were having difficulties when they were hit byaviolent squall.

John Lawton, the launching authority, was met at the boathouse by Helmsman Paul Touhy and, a few minutes later, by crew members Patricia Kennealy, Brian Kavanagh and Niall Partridge.

Hazardous Conditions were so bad that at first it did not look as though the inshore lifeboat could be launched but, after a hazardous trip along the pier to assess the situation with heavy waves breaking right over the pier, it was decided that Touhy would go. He elected to take three crew members with him - both to provide a dedicated look-out and to give extra weight for the inflatable.

Although they decided that the wind was onshore at Force 6/7, local met observatories were recording gusts of over 50 knots at the time, and it is likely that the winds were some Force 8 to 9 (Severe Gale! at times during the service. This also explains the height of the seas, which were at lest 16ft high outside Tramore harbour.

Moorings The lifeboat launched at 2045 and faced her first hazard inside the harbour itself. Fishing boats were packed onto their storm moorings and sheering about so much in the strong winds that there was very little room to manoeuvre.

However, the D class found a way through and headed out along the shore of the bay, picking her way through the heavy breakers.

The casualties were only about half a mile away but in the ferocious wind and seas, it took nearly ten minutes to reach them. In normal conditions such a short trip would have taken nearer two minutes.

Once at the scene the crew quickly located one surfer, who was caught in an ebbing rip tide and battered by the huge swell. He was making hardly any progress away from the cliffs which were now only about 100 yards behind him.

He was able to tell the crew that the other seven had made it ashore and, at first, wanted to carry on alone and surf into the beach.

Stalled Paul Tuohy had to pull away to meet the incoming waves now up to 15ft high and, on his second attempt to approach the surfer, the engine stalled causing what he described as 'a moment's excitement.' It quickly restarted and the lifeboat was soon back alongside. Paul Touhy and crew member Brian Kavanagh are both experienced surfers and this time it did not take them long to get the casualty and his board on to the lifeboat.

They were now faced with the trip back to the harbour, with five people and a surfboard in the 16ft inflatable.

Sensibly Paul took the lifeboat out to sea to start with, heading south through the seas until he was clear of the break before running along the coast ready to enter the harbour.

Dark Although there was still 20 minutes left until sunset, the storm clouds made it virtually dark as the inflatable prepared to enter the harbour.

Pausing to get the feel of the seas, Paul Tuohy's surfing experience helped him choose a wave and to surf back into the harbour on it, negotiating the entrance by slowing enough to allow it to break and then darting through ahead of the next one.

Having once again threaded her way through the mass of fishing boats, the lifeboat eventually landed the casualty who, although suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion, was otherwise unharmed.

Dunmore East's Trent class allweather lifeboat was also launched to provide Dae*-up for the D class during this service She arrived as the Tramore lifeboat was making her way out through the breakers with the surfer but had to stand by about half a mile away due to The shallow water m the bay.

The lifeboat D class inflatable D5i 1 Margaret The c 'ew Thanks on Vellum Helmsman Paul Touhy Medal Service Certificates Crew members Paincia Kennealv Brian Kavanagh Niall Partridge A run saves fishing vessel in storm force winds Aservice last September by Thurso's Arun class lifeboat in very heavy weather and with only one engine fully operational has earned her coxswain, Second Coxswain William Munroe, the Institution's Thanks on Vellum.

It was 1144 on 15 September 1997 when Thurso lifeboat station first learned that the fishing vessel Aztec with four crew aboard was in difficulties in gale force winds some distance away to the west.

Ten minutes later the Arun, 52-43 The Queen Mother, was at sea in a Force? to 8 which soon freshened to Force 8 to 9 as she left the shelter of the land. With the tide now running against the WSW wind, conditions became very rough as the lifeboat battled against the seas towards the casualty.

Increased Working the throttles continuously to make best progress, Second Coxswain Munro was able to maintain some 13 or 14 knots even when the wind increased still further to around Storm Force 10. Despite fine boat handling the lifeboat sustained some damage when a large wave tore some of the protective belting from her hull.

The weather and constant working of the throttles finally took its toll and, at 1345, the port throttle cable seized. Assistant Mechanic William Miller went into the engine room to investigate but was unable to effect a repair. The throttle cable was disconnected, so that it could be worked from the engine if neccessary, and the engine left running at idle.

The coxswain had already been told by the Coastguard that another fishing vessel, Vigilant, was standing by the casualty and, as the lifeboat proceeded at 7 to 8 knots on one engine, Coxswain Munro asked that Vigilant take Aztec in tow.

At 1443 The Queen Mother rendezvoused with the two vessels and the convoy made its way back towards Thurso with the lifeboat standing by.

All went well until just off Holborn Head, with about at hour and a half's towing left, the line parted leaving Azfecadrift off a lee shore and beam on to the seas.

In these conditions, and with the wind still Force 10 and the seas confused by the backwash from the rocky shore, connecting a tow would have been extremely difficult even with both engines operating normally. Nevertheless Coxswain Munro was determined to attempt it, even though his port engine had no throttle control.

Chain From the upper steering position he set up a human chain to shout throttle controls to William Miller in the engine room, where he made the adjustments manually.

In the backwash from the cliffs the seas were up to 35ft high and the two vessels were moving about so violently that one could be 40ft above or below the other's deck.

Remarkably Coxswain Munro was able to position the Arun so that a tow line could be passed across and, at 1825, the lifeboat had veered the whole length of the line and was battling offshore at about three knots. The seas were so big, that even from the upper steering position, Coxswain Munro could often see only the masthead of the casualty.

Eventually the Arun managed to get 4ztecclear of the headland and, with Vigilant standing by, was able to get her to the safety of Thurso.

Even here Coxswain Munro's difficulties were not over - the strong wind and recalitrant port engine would make berthing difficult. However, with the aid of the harbour tug, Vigilant and her four-man crew were put safely alongside at 1945.

The lifeboat Arun class 52-43 The Queen Mother Th*cr«w Thanks on Vellum Second Coxswain William Munro Vellum Service Certificates Asst Mech Duncan Munro Asst Mech William Miller Crew members James Brims Thomas Davidson Donald McKenzie Gordon Munro Kevin Oag John Webster Rough conditions for Brighton's Atlantic Ashort but difficult service by Brighton's Atlantic 75 last December has earned two of her crew the Institution's Thanks on Vellum. Prompt action, good seamanship, a brave swim in rough water and excellent teamwork all played their part in the recovery of a man from the water near the marina breakwater.

Some of Brighton's crew were at the station for their weekly exercise on 7 December 1997, carrying out shore-based training, when they saw the yacht Dragonfly, returning from the local club's regular race, broach in the confused water just inside the entrance.

Narrowly avoiding the breakwater she eventually grounded on a lee shore in the fork of two short arms (see photo) in full view of the lifeboat station and just 200 yards away.

With the wind SSW Force 6 the crew decided to self-launch to her aid and, after some effort, she was freed and made her own way into the marina.

Helmsman Mark Smith had three other crew members with him in view of the local nature of the job and the help the extra hands provided in passing a tow. With the rest of the club's fleet still at sea, he decided to stay afloat in case there were any further incidents and to land one of the crew on the South Quay to overlook an area which cannot be seen from the lifeboat station.

However, as they approached the quay some onlookers shouted to them that a man had just been washed overboard from a yacht, later identified at Xanadu, on the seaward side of the high wall.

Helmsman Smith quickly took the lifeboat round the breakwater, where he could see the casualty in a bright orange jacket floating less than 25ft off the wall and being regularly submerged by waves up to 25ft high, some of which were breaking.

Running east along the troughs of the waves, Mark Smith planned to throw a line to the casualty and pull him clear, for although the concrete blocks which form the wall dissipate the swell and prevent a backwash, they also make it difficult to judge just how close the lifeboat can approach.

The line fell well within the reach of the casualty, but he made no attempt to grab it and was obviously not able to help himself. By now he was only some 15ft from the wall.

The lifeboat had to square up to the seas to face some breakers and accelerate clear for a moment, swinging round to starboard again when it was safe to go back in.

With the casualty so close to the wall a normal upwind approach was impossible, so the lifeboat came in level with the man and Mark Hayes jumped in next to him with a line attached to a quoit round his arm.

As the lifeboat motored slowly away from the wall the two crew pulled the men alongside the sponson although, as the lifeboat was stood almost on end by a breaker, they momentarily lost their grip at one point.

Eventually the lifeboat managed to get about 50 yards of searoom and, with the help of the helmsman, the man was brought aboard and the Atlantic headed back to the station.

The casualty stopped breathing and also appeared to arrest but one of the crew, Berenice McCall, is a Sister at the local Accident and Emergency hospital and by the time the lifeboat reached the station at 1034 he was breathing again.

The crew continued their treatment in the ambulance until the casualty reached hospital, but sadly their efforts were ultimately in vain as he died the following day.

1 1 . • lifeboat Atlantic 75 B709 The crew Thanks on Vellum Helmsman Mark Smith Crew member Mark Hayes Chairman's Letter of Appreciation Crew members Berenice McCall Antony Parsons.