Crew honoured after 14 fishermen rescued from stricken boat

## Crew Honored After Dramatic Rescue of 14 Fishermen from Stricken Vessel

Fourteen fishermen were successfully rescued after their boat became stranded on rocks in County Kerry, an operation that has now seen a veteran rescuer recognized for his extraordinary efforts.

Jim O'Neill, a seasoned rescuer with nearly three decades of experience plucking individuals from peril along Ireland's coastline via helicopter, believed he had encountered every conceivable scenario. That was until a critical call came in just before last Christmas.

The French fishing vessel, the Fastnet, carrying a crew of 14, found itself marooned on rocks in County Kerry. The incident occurred after the vessel experienced engine failure while departing Dingle Harbour. Near gale-force winds and powerful Atlantic waves had driven the boat aground, threatening to capsize or break it apart and leaving the crew at the mercy of the unforgiving ocean.

O'Neill, a native of Strabane, County Tyrone, and the crew of Irish Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 115, were integral to the extensive emergency response launched to bring the 14 men to safety. O'Neill described the event as the most challenging rescue he had ever undertaken, one that easily could have escalated into 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 stated. "Success was not by any means guaranteed or certain."

In recognition of this incredibly demanding rescue, Jim O'Neill has now been honored with the Billy Deacon Memorial award. He was lauded as a hero at a ceremony held at the House of Commons, where he received the award for his actions that day. The Billy Deacon Memorial award acknowledged an "incredibly demanding rescue which was completed with a calm professionalism, despite considerable personal risk."

The award committee also extended praise to the other crew members of Rescue 115: Capt Robert Goodbody, co-pilot Paraic Slattery, and winch operator Eamon O'Broin.

Upon Rescue 115's arrival at the scene, O'Neill observed the Fastnet's crew in grave 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," he recounted. "There was a lot of pollution on the day because it was leaking diesel into the sea and we knew we were going into a very difficult set of circumstances."

The rescue effort involved multiple emergency services, including an RNLI lifeboat, Irish Coastguard land units, the Irish Navy, and local fishing vessels. Given the Fastnet's position on rocks in relatively shallow water, the RNLI lifeboat and other vessels maintained a safe distance. Meanwhile, the crew of Rescue 115 prepared for a winching operation to extract the 14 crew members.

With the helicopter hovering above the fishing boat, O'Neill was winched down by his colleagues. Over a 50-minute period, he meticulously located the fishermen on board and guided them all to safety. He was the last person to depart the imperiled vessel.

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

This inherent risk was not lost on the award committee for the Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy. The trophy commemorates Billy Deacon, a winchman who tragically died in November 1997 during a HM Coastguard search and rescue operation near the Shetland Islands. Deacon had rescued the final crew members from a distressed cargo vessel, the Green Lily, placing them two at a time into winch equipment for safe evacuation. He was the last man on the ship when he was swept overboard and was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his "outstanding courage and bravery." The trophy bearing his name is presented to winch paramedics or operators for meritorious service during search and rescue operations.

O'Neill's fellow Rescue 115 crew members were present at the award ceremony in London, where he received the trophy along with a watch inscribed by RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes. The award committee commended O'Neill's magnificent leadership skills in organizing the evacuation of the 14 crew and prioritizing their safety, despite considerable personal risk. They added, "His courage in the face of adversity had a direct bearing on the successful outcome." His fellow crew members were also lauded for their strong leadership, teamwork, and communication in a demanding situation.

O'Neill expressed his honor at receiving an award that acknowledges Deacon's sacrifice. He urged everyone to prioritize safety when working or enjoying the beaches and coastline of the island. "It's important that people are vigilant and safe," he emphasized. "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."