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Irish Coast Guard / TwitterIn the dark and cold of night, when you are in need and you are in the most remote places of Ireland and her vast waters, a small number of strangers will step out into the darkness and come to your aid driven by a sole noble ethos "So that others may live..."#Rescue116 pic.twitter.com/C2SQuYbQ6E
— Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) March 14, 2018
Updated 5.45pm
MEMBERS OF THE Rescue 116 crew who died a year ago today have been honoured at a ceremony in Mayo.
Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, winchman Ciarán Smith and winch operator Paul Ormsby all lost their lives after Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 went down.
Rescue 116 crashed after it struck Blackrock Island off the Mayo coast on its way to a refuelling stop at Blacksod. It was due to refuel before taking part in a rescue operation.
The bodies of Smith and Ormsby were never recovered.
Seamie Barrett / TwitterAnother 60k done and it was great to spin with the family and friends of Ciaran Smith #milesintheirmemory @nevilleskibb @NFitzPsychology pic.twitter.com/5fPClQJcCw
— Seamie Barrett (@mulman90) March 13, 2018
Among those remembering the crew are a Coast Guard cycle team that have been making their way from the Rescue 116 base in Dublin Airport to Blacksod.
The Commissioners of Irish Lights vessel the Granuaile and the LÉ Niamh of the Naval Service were both anchored off Blacksod this morning.
A memorial mass at St Brendan’s Church in Aughleam took place at 10am and was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony off Blackrock.
The family of the crew passed the wreaths to members of the Coast Guard and gardaí before the wreaths were transferred to the Granuaile an the LÉ Niamh.
In a statement, the Irish Coast Guard said: ”Two brave souls were brought home, two remain lost to the sea, but all four will be forever remembered for the sacrifice they made. Our thoughts today are with the families, friends and colleagues of Dara, Mark, Paul and Ciarán.”
Irish Coast Guard / TwitterIn the early hours of this morning last year, the crew of Rescue 116 were woken from their beds and tasked to fly west. Their job was to provide support for a long-range mission out over the north-west coast. Their job, like always, was to be there to help others. #rescue116 pic.twitter.com/5C9X02vXsR
— Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) March 14, 2018
With reporting by Órla Ryan
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They flew over our house almost every day. Sometimes when we were in the garden we would wave at them and sometimes they would wave back. Then one year ago the sky went quiet. May they rest in peace.
God Rest Them. Was at a wreath laying ceremony few months back. Very sad.
They are always in my thoughts. I can’t begin to understand the pain and anguish the families of the 2 missing crew are feeling every day. For a loved one to go to work and put their life on the line for others and not return must be devastating! May they rest in peace knowing they died hero’s!
May they rest in peace, their selfless actions saved so many lives, Ireland has lost 4 brave souls but their memory and legacy will be remebered forever. RIP Rescue 116
Well done to all involved who reluctantly had to wind down their search efforts but have not forgotten these fine people. Wonderful tribute by the local community.
The crew of R116 were working off incorrect maps. Why has no one been prosecuted in aer corps management/dept of transport, for manslaughter???
Is there a reason why someone is still sitting on the accident report?
@Denis McClean: Elephant in the room .
They are indeed sadly missed and ireland have lost great heroes. I’m waiting to hear the report like others but must question the sense of sending them on such a treacherous mission for a severed finger? The first rule of lifesaving is not to endanger your own life. Maybe it’s time to renationalise or simply raise the threshold for what requires undertaking these missions. Thank you all for your service.
@Pat O’Brien: every mission out to sea in a helicopter automatically has a risk to the life of the rescuers.
@Ohhh_reeally:
Its hard to believe its been a year since these 4 brave heroes so tragically lost their lives… seems like only yesterday i woke up to hear the tragic news… i still hope that they will find the remains of Ciarán & Paul so their families can get some closure… must be awful wondering the what if… Cannot imagine what they must be going through :-(
Was out there today. Incredibly moving.
There should be an independent review on how the recovery of crew was carried out ,time delays etc
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