Safety gear saved fishermen, says pilot

THE pilot of the helicopter which winched two fishermen to safety seconds before their trawler sank said their quick-thinking and safety equipment saved their lives.

Irish Coast Guard Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, the coast guard’s only female pilot, commanded the rescue mission that plucked John Downes, 51, and Ken Doyle, 55, from rough seas about 10 miles east of the Tuskar Rock off the Waterford coast on Tuesday night. It was the third trawler to sink of the south east coast in a week.

Capt Fitzpatrick, 35, said the decision by skipper of the Renegade, Mr Downes, to take a life-raft, with a radio and wearing proper safety equipment, saved their lives.