Castletownbere RNLI crew receive callout, five minutes before station's open day

'It is the first time we had a lifeboat open day without a lifeboat,' said Paul Stevens, RNLI lifeboat operations manager

Crew members and visitors at the Castletownbere RNLI's open day on Sunday. Picture: RNLI

RNLI volunteers from Castletownbere were called to assist 13 people aboard a rib [rigid inflatable boat] which suffered a mechanical breakdown on Sunday, five minutes before the beginning of the RNLI station's open day. 

A large number of adults and children gathered to visit the Castletownbere lifeboat station, view its lifeboat and meet its crew members. 

But, five minutes before the 2.30pm start for the open day, the RNLI volunteers received a call from the Valentia Coastguard Maritime Coordination Rescue Centre to assist the stricken rib at the Bardini Reefer, a wreck in Bearhaven Harbour between Bere Island and the mainland. 

The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat 'Annette Hutton' was launched immediately under the command of Coxswain Dean Hegarty, with mechanic David O’Donovan and crew John Paul Downey, Kyle Cronin, Andrew O’Neill and William Power.

Arriving at the scene, the volunteers found the 13 people aboard the rib to be safe and well. They were members of a university sub-aqua club. 

Their dive boat was unable to manoeuvre due to damage and the Castletownbere made the decision to tow the rib back to the station due to the navigational risk it might have posed to other vessels. 

The 13 divers were taken aboard the 'Annette Hutton' and safely towed to Castletownbere within 15 minutes, where all were welcomed by the more than 200 people visiting for the open day. 

Members of the public welcome the RNLI's 'Annette Hutton' lifeboat back to Castletownbere after a callout on Sunday afternoon. Picture: RNLI

At this point, the crowd patiently waiting to visit the lifeboat had grown and within 15 minutes, the lifeboat was open to the public.

"It is the first time we had a lifeboat open day without a lifeboat!" said RNLI Lifeboat operations manager Paul Stevens.

"Members of the public were able to view the lifeboat launch and return from a shout, and eventually go on board the boat," he said. 

Mr Stevens said the Castletownbere crew were delighted to welcome more than 200 visitors to their station, a number he said was particularly significant given this year marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI in 1824.