Fishing boatcrew saved as storm lashes south

TRAGEDY was averted off the coast of Cork last night after a fishing boat started taking on water in the midst of heavy seas and force eight gales.

Due to the very difficult weather conditions, two lifeboats and the Waterford Coast Guard rescue helicopter took just over an hour to reach the crew before it could be escorted back to port.

The fishing vessel, with three people on board, got into difficulty about 30km off the coast between Ballycotton and Youghal.

It had been taking on water and the crew was bailing out with buckets with five metre waves in the area.

Lifeboats from Youghal and Ballycotton left their bases at 8.30pm, and the coast guard helicopter also responded.

Storm forced winds slowed the helicopter’s progress and support from the LÉ Roisín was initially requested because of fears the sea would be too rough to allow the lifeboats to fully assist the vessel.

However, shortly after 9.30pm, the Ballycotton lifeboat and the coastguard helicopter arrived on scene.

Weather prevented a pump being transferred onto the fishing boat.

And, according to the Ballycotton lifeboat station, the crew was able to drive the vessel on its own steam back to shore by 11pm.

The incident happened in desperate weather conditions. Onshore, thunder, lightning, driving rain and hailstones swept across coastal communities along the south coast, causing flooding in parts of Cork and Waterford.

This was part of a fast moving weather system which led to large rainfalls and flooding in many parts of the country.

Power was cut to homes in the western side of Cork city. Similar cuts were experienced in neighbourhoods in Dublin.

The Cork outage affected thousands of people from Wilton as far as Ballincollig. The cuts also affected Bishopstown and the Cork Institute of Technology campus.

It was suspected a lightning strike led to the power cuts and as there was no obvious accident or incident in the vicinity. Power was restored to much of the area by 10pm.

Cork fire brigade was called out to numerous weather related problems, including a tree which fell down across the city-bound side of the South Link Road at approximately 9pm.

The rain is forecasted to have died down today and will revert to moderate westerly winds.