Two brothers are looking forward to being local lifesavers after being inspired by their father to join Bundoran RNLI.
Brothers Oisin and Nathan Cassidy, from Kinlough in County Leitrim, joined up as volunteer crew members for the charity as they wanted to follow in the footsteps of their dad James who has been a helm with Bundoran RNLI for 18 years.
The duo have had a vital part of their crew training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
They recently travelled to the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset, to complete the charity’s Crew Emergency Procedures course.
The course sees volunteer crew being trained in a variety of crucial subjects such as how to deal with fires aboard lifeboats, how to ‘abandon ship’ in the event of an emergency (with a 4m jump into water), team survival swimming, coping in a life-raft in simulated darkness, how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat, and the importance of lifejackets. It also includes sessions on the correct use of flares, fire extinguishers and throw bags.
Talking about the training, Nathan, who volunteers as a crew member, said: “It was inevitable that myself and Oisin would join the RNLI. Since an early age we’ve been around the lifeboat station with Dad and have seen the great work that he and all the other volunteers do week in, week out. We are both very proud to be part of crew at Bundoran RNLI and look forward to help save lives at sea in the Bundoran and Donegal Bay area.”
Oisin and Nathan Cassidy – Bundoran Lifeboat Volunteers
Nathan and Oisin’s training took place in the Sea Survival Centre at the RNLI College, where they were joined by other RNLI volunteer crew members from around Ireland and the UK.
The training was funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charitable foundation that helps to protect life and property by supporting engineering-related education, public engagement and the application of research.
The Foundation has committed to funding the RNLI’s Crew Emergency Procedures course for a second five year period until December 2020. This additional funding of €1,208,400 brings their total support for RNLI crew training to just over €2,804,400* since 2008.
More than 3,000 RNLI volunteer crew members have now received the training thanks to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s funding.
James Kilburn, Lifesaving Delivery Training Manager at the RNLI said: ‘We are so grateful to Lloyd’s Register Foundation for funding this vital part of our volunteer crews’ training.
‘Their support is very important to us and it’s fantastic how, so far, over 3,000 of our crew members have benefitted from Lloyd’s Register Foundation funding this part of their training.
‘As only one in ten of our volunteer crew members comes from a professional maritime background, the Crew Emergency Procedures course is crucial in giving our volunteers the training they need and helping keep them as safe as possible while carrying out rescues. It gives volunteers the confidence to save lives even in the most challenging conditions.’
This donation is the latest in Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s relationship with the RNLI, which was recognised in 2010 when it received the Group Supporter Award from Prince Michael of Kent in recognition of its valuable support of the charity.
