Trawler trio are rescued off Kinsale

BY JACKIE KEOGH 

THREE Portuguese fishermen were rescued off a stricken trawler near Kinsale on Sunday night, in a rescue that was filmed by the RNLI.

The dramatic footage shows the volunteer RNLI crew in action in storm conditions as they came to the assistance of the three fishermen whose vessel, the MFV Sean Anthony, registered in Skibbereen, foundered on rocks at the mouth of Kinsale Harbour, shortly after 6pm on Sunday.

The lifeboat crew – with Nick Searls at the helm – pulled the fishermen, who had been clinging to the trawler, to safety. The vessel, a 20m beam trawler, had been grounded in gale force conditions on rocks at Moneypoint at the entrance to Kinsale harbour.

The video shows 3m high waves breaking over the deck of the trawler but the RNLI crew were able to manoeuvre the lifeboat close enough so the men, who were wearing lifejackets, were able to swim the short distance to safety. 

The three rescued men were brought to Kinsale RNLI station. The men were shaken but uninjured by their ordeal. They had, however, lost all of their personal possessions and an appeal to the local community met with a generous response.

Nick Searls said: ‘Food was provided by a local hotel; the lads were clothed; and the community rallied in behind them and the phone was hopping with offers from other B&Bs and hotels looking to put them up.’

Meanwhile, photographer Jakub Walutek has posted drone footage of the stricken vessel on Monday, entitling it ‘Calm after the Storm’ .