Three fishermen on board an 11m boat that was disabled two and a half miles off Power Head were brought to safety by volunteer lifeboat crew from Ballycotton RNLI during the early hours of this morning.
 
Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard at 2.15am to a fishing boat that had suffered difficulties and was disabled, rendering it in danger of being washed up against the rocks.
 
With temperaturs at freezing and a bitter north easterly wind of force 5-6 and two meter swell the crew quickly made its way west of Ballycotton in the direction of Power Head.  Once the crew had located the vessel and had confirmed all crew on board were safe, a decision was made to secure a tow line and bring the boat to Crosshaven as conditions were not safe to return with vessel in tow to  Ballycotton. Towing at a speed of five knots, Ballycotton RNLI and the fishing boat arrived to Crosshaven at approximately 5.15am. As they entered the mouth of Cork harbour they were escorted in by a pod of friendly dolphins. Once the fishing boat was safely secured, Ballycotton lifeboat began the journey home, returning at 7.05am to refuel and ready again for service.
 
Commenting on the call out Ballycotton RNLI Coxswain Eolan Walsh said: ‘Thankfully all three fishermen were wearing lifejackets and had called for help as soon as they encountered difficulties. Conditions were extremely cold and difficult and I am thankful to all the volunteers who answered the call last night. We would remind anyone planning a trip to sea that if you get into difficulty or see somebody else in trouble on the water or along the coast, dial 999 or 112 or use VHF radio CH 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
 
The lifeboat crew were made up of Coxswain Eolan Walsh, station mechanic Adam Hussey, Eolan Breathnach as navigator, Cíaran Walsh, Michael Kenneally, Claire McCarthy, Ronan Lynch and Adrian Erangey.