Man’s lucky escape from sinking boat

Man’s lucky escape from sinking boat

24 October 2012 - by Ciara Colhoun

ONE of the Ardglass fishermen rescued when a trawler sank yesterday afternoon had a particularly lucky escape.

The man was pulled under the waves as the Snowdonia sank beneath him but managed to reach the surface where he and his crew mate were rescued by another Ardglass vessel.

Mystery surrounds the reasons for the sudden sinking of the 14-metre wooden vessel which was 12 miles east of Kilkeel when it suddenly began taking on water.

The boat sank quickly and the two crewmen, who were both wearing lifejackets, were plucked to safety after about 10 minutes in the water by fishermen from a second Ardglass trawler, the Tribute. They had raised the alarm with Belfast Coastguard, which co-ordinated the rescue effort, calling in assistance from Kilkeel’s RNLI lifeboat crew.

The Kilkeel Lifeboat was quickly on scene to provide first aid until the arrival of the Irish Coastguard helicopter from Dublin shortly afterwards. The two men were airlifted to Daisy Hill Hospital, in Newry, where they received treatment.

Both men were described as being “cold and in shock” after the accident although they are not believed to have suffered any serious injury.

Although it is not yet clear why the boat got into difficulties, one Killough fisherman, who was fishing off Scotland as yesterday’s accident unfolded, said a mechanical failure was the most likely explanation.

Mr. Martin Rice said fishermen from the area had united over the radiowaves throughout the morning awaiting news of the two men on board the Snowdonia.

Although he admitted there is stiff competition between fishermen, he said this is immediately forgotten when lives are at risk.

“The skippers from all the local boats kept in touch all morning because news like this spreads like wildfire,” he said.

“Although we are very competitive there is a lot of concern among us when one is in trouble. You just want to hear everyone has got off safely.

“The conditions were not too bad at the time so I do not think it was anything to do with the weather. I imagine it is more likely to have been a mechanical failure. Normally a vessel that takes on water has a burst pipe.

“We all know the dangers of the sea but an accident like this brings it home to all of us how real that danger can be.”

Mr. Roy Teggarty, operations manager with Kilkeel RNLI, said their vessel arrived at the scene of the accident quickly but the fishermen had already been picked up by another trawler.

“We examined them at the scene to see if they needed any help and they were then transferred to hospital,” he said.

Gary Young, watch manager for Belfast Coastguard, said the incident had once again proven the importance of wearing a lifejacket and having it maintained to a high standard.

“I would like to pass on my thanks to the professionalism of the lifeboat and helicopter crews,” he said.