Crew honoured after 14 fishermen rescued from stricken boat

After almost 30 years of rescuing people up and down Ireland's coastline from helicopters, Jim O'Neill thought he'd seen almost everything.

That was until the call came in just before last Christmas.

The French fishing vessel Fastnet, and its 14-strong crew, was stranded on rocks in County Kerry, having suffered engine failure while leaving Dingle Harbour.

Near gale-force winds and strong Atlantic waves had run it aground and were threatening to capsize or break it apart, leaving the crew at the mercy of the ocean.

Enter O'Neill and the crew of Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115, who were part of a huge emergency response to get the 14 men to safety.

O'Neill, originally from Strabane, County Tyrone, described it as the most challenging rescue he had ever faced, one which could have resulted in a major maritime tragedy.

"We couldn't be certain going into it how it was going to turn out because, by the nature of it, we knew it was going to be very high risk," he said.

"Success was not by any means guaranteed or certain."

Now O'Neill has been hailed as a hero, having been presented with an award to mark his actions that day at a ceremony held at the House of Commons.

The Billy Deacon Memorial award was given to him for an incredibly demanding rescue which was "completed with a calm professionalism, despite considerable personal risk".

The award committee also praised the other crew members of Rescue 115 – Capt Robert Goodbody; co-pilot Paraic Slattery; and winch operator Eamon O'Broin.

When Rescue 115 arrived on the scene, O'Neill found the Fastnet's crew in serious danger.

"It was getting seriously smashed by the waves on one side and smashing off the rocks on the other, and there was a risk the vessel was starting to break up.

"There was a lot of pollution on the day because it was leaking diesel into the sea and we knew we ere going into a very difficult set of circumstances."

Several emergency services were part of the rescue effort – an RNLI lifeboat, Irish Coastguard land units, the Irish Navy and local fishing vessels.

With the Fastnet on rocks in relatively shallow water, the RNLI lifeboat and other vessels stayed in safer water. At the same time, the crew of Rescue 115 prepared for a winching operation to rescue the 14 crew.

With the helicopter hovering above the fishing boat, O'Neill was winched down by colleagues and, over a 50-minute period, he helped locate the fisherman on board and get them all to safety.

He was the final person to leave the stricken boat.

"The main challenge I had on the vessel was I had to make sure I didn't fall hard on the deck or end up being thrown overboard," he said.

"I didn't think I was going to survive if I ended up in the sea because it was so rough.

"So I got the 14 all up and into the helicopter and that a bit of a moment really – suddenly, I found I was the only one left.

"That was a great moment but also a very scary moment because I knew I had to be recovered."

That risk would not be lost on the award committee for the Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy.

Deacon was a winchman who died in November 1997 while carrying out a HM Coastguard search and rescue operation near the Shetland Islands.

He rescued the final crew members from a stricken cargo vessel, the Green Lily, placing them two at a time in winch equipment to get them off the ship safely.

Deacon was the final man on the ship when he was swept overboard. He was posthumously awarded the George Medal in recognition of his "outstanding courage and bravery".

The trophy that bears his name is awarded to winch paramedics or operators for meritorious service during search and rescue operations.

With his fellow Rescue 115 crew members in attendance, O'Neill was presented with the trophy in London as well as a watch inscribed by RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes.

The award committee said he showed magnificent leadership skills in organising the 14 crew for evacuation and prioritising their safety at considerable risk to himself, adding: "His courage in the face of adversity had a direct bearing on the successful outcome."

His fellow crew were praised for good leadership, teamwork and communication in a demanding situation.

O'Neill said he felt honoured to receive an award which remembers the sacrifice of Deacon.

He wants everyone to heed the safety message when out and about either working or enjoying the beaches and coastline on the island.

"It's important that people are vigilant and safe," he said.

"They can still go out and enjoy the environment but just be careful about what you do and think about what you do and just remember what could be the outcome of your actions if you take any foolish risks."