Crew members for the Arranmore RNLI spent over 26 hours at sea over the Bank Holiday weekend before finally bringing a fishing vessel, with five people onboard, to safety.
The Coast Guard requested the Donegal lifeboat to launch on Sunday evening at 10.50pm, after the vessel, which was 48 miles north of Arranmore, reported being in difficulty.
In challenging conditions for the lifeboat crew a decision was taken, that the safest option would be to establish a tow to bring the fishing vessel to a suitable safe port.
A tow had already been attempted with another vessel in the area but it was unsuccessful, with the ropes breaking.
A lifeboat crewmember successfully threw a rope onto the deck of the fishing vessel and a line was established.
Arranmore RNLI took the vessel back to Rathmullen pier in Donegal.
This was the second callout over the St. Bridget’s bank holiday weekend for Arranmore RNLI, as they had launched to carry out a medical evacuation from the island earlier on the Sunday, where they brought a casualty to Burtonport.
