I
Ian Cloke
Guest
County Down lifeboat crew receive gallantry awards for fishing boat search
A County Down lifeboat helmsman is to receive a gallantry award for his role in the search for the crew of a fishing vessel which sank earlier this year. Two fishermen died when the Greenhill hit rocks near Ardglass in January.
RNLI Portaferry helmsman Simon Rogers and his crew found a lifeboat containing a third crew member and rescued him. Mr Rogers is to receive the RNLI's Thanks of the Institution for his efforts in the search and rescue. His fellow crew members of the Blue Peter V lifeboat - Philip Sands-Robinson, Andrew Edwards and Sinead Breen - will also receive certifcates for their bravery.
After being alerted about the missing vessel at about 2000 GMT on 19 January, Mr Rogers and his crew braved gale force winds, total darkness and five-metre waves on their journey to Ardglass. After checking if the Greenhill was in Ardglass harbour the lifeboat crew located a six-man life raft, with one man onboard.
In dangerous conditions, Mr Rogers succeeded in manoeuvring the Portaferry lifeboat alongside the raft so that the crew could help the survivor into the lifeboat. The man was suffering from severe hypothermia and was highly traumatised. They continued searching for the missing crew members until the early hours of the morning, helped by Newcastle lifeboat and the Irish Coastgurad.
Colin Williams, RNLI divisional inspector for Ireland, said: "RNLI awards for gallantry are given sparingly and only after careful consideration and investigation. Of the 232 RNLI lifeboat stations across Ireland and the UK over 8,000 services are carried out annually, of these only around eight vellum awards are awarded each year; this rescue is one of these."
Greenhill crew members Donall Gibson, 22, and Connor Bogues, 26 died in the tragedy.
A County Down lifeboat helmsman is to receive a gallantry award for his role in the search for the crew of a fishing vessel which sank earlier this year. Two fishermen died when the Greenhill hit rocks near Ardglass in January.
RNLI Portaferry helmsman Simon Rogers and his crew found a lifeboat containing a third crew member and rescued him. Mr Rogers is to receive the RNLI's Thanks of the Institution for his efforts in the search and rescue. His fellow crew members of the Blue Peter V lifeboat - Philip Sands-Robinson, Andrew Edwards and Sinead Breen - will also receive certifcates for their bravery.
After being alerted about the missing vessel at about 2000 GMT on 19 January, Mr Rogers and his crew braved gale force winds, total darkness and five-metre waves on their journey to Ardglass. After checking if the Greenhill was in Ardglass harbour the lifeboat crew located a six-man life raft, with one man onboard.
In dangerous conditions, Mr Rogers succeeded in manoeuvring the Portaferry lifeboat alongside the raft so that the crew could help the survivor into the lifeboat. The man was suffering from severe hypothermia and was highly traumatised. They continued searching for the missing crew members until the early hours of the morning, helped by Newcastle lifeboat and the Irish Coastgurad.
Colin Williams, RNLI divisional inspector for Ireland, said: "RNLI awards for gallantry are given sparingly and only after careful consideration and investigation. Of the 232 RNLI lifeboat stations across Ireland and the UK over 8,000 services are carried out annually, of these only around eight vellum awards are awarded each year; this rescue is one of these."
Greenhill crew members Donall Gibson, 22, and Connor Bogues, 26 died in the tragedy.