(With video) Four Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats were launched in July to respond to the sinking 42 metre Dutch training vessel Astrid, which had hit rocks inside the Sovereign Islands at Ballymacus Point near Kinsale in Cork, Ireland.
All thirty people on board were brought to safety when lifeboat Kinsale transferred all the casualties from the sinking ship onto Courtmacsherry, a RNLI lifeboat, and a local vessel. They were then taken to Kinsale.
Four RNLI Lifeboats Launched
Both the Kinsale and Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboats were called out at noon on 24 July to go to the immediate aid of the sail training vessel that had got into difficulties on the western entrance to Kinsale Harbour in Cork. There was a two metre swell and winds were force five to six. The Ballycotton and Crosshaven RNLI were also launched. The Kinsale was first on scene.
Grounded Vessel Was Making Water
The training vessel had lost power and was driven on to rocks by a strong southerly wind at the western entrance to Kinsale Harbour. The grounded vessel was taking on water and a crewmember from Kinsale RNLI was put on board. Eighteen of the casualties were taken off the Astrid by the Kinsale and transferred to the Courtmacsherry, before being brought to safety.
Twelve Leave Ship by Liferaft
The remaining twelve were put onto a liferaft deployed by the Astrid’s crew, which was towed to safety by the Kinsale and picked up by a local vessel. The people on board the liferaft were then taken to Kinsale harbour and assessed by medical teams.
Irish Coast Guard helicopters from Waterford and Shannon were also on scene along with ambulances and medical crews from Cork.
‘Major Tragedy Averted’
Speaking about the callout Courtmacsherry RNLI Coxswain Sean O’Farrell said: ‘Everyone was very fortunate. I want to praise the quick thinking of the skipper and the crew from the Astrid. They kept calm and did everything we asked them to do. We were able to get them to safety quickly and a major tragedy was averted. To be able to recover thirty people safely was a great day for everyone involved.'
Below a video shot on scene (by the RNLI)
Picture: The Kinsale rescuing the crew from the Astrid (courtesy RNLI)
