30 year service recognition for retiring Youghal RNLI volunteer.

John first became involved in 1987 and was fully enrolled as a crew member by 1988. He went on to become a helm on three Atlantic class lifeboats, the Atlantic 21 Marjory Turner, Atlantic 75 Patricia Jennings and the current Atlantic 85 Gordon and Phil. He also served as lifeboat training coordinator between 2001-2009 and again between 2016-2017.

Speaking on the night John said: ‘since I started with the RNLI 30 years ago, I’ve seen many changes and big improvements, the standard of training is so high these days’

There have been many memorable rescues for John over the years, one he remembers from his early days happened one summer evening, when a man from Cork city traveled to Youghal to try out his new surfboard that he had received as a birthday gift.

John recalls: ‘The man had booked a surfing lesson, but the teacher was late so he decided to go out on his own. Shortly after he entered the water, he began to be swept out to sea with the offshore breeze. When we arrived the man was in the water and being carried further out to sea, he was freezing cold. Had we not arrived when we did, the outcome could have been very different’

During his 30 years with Youghal RNLI John was instrumental in saving 34 lives at sea.

Brendan O’Driscoll, Youghal RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: ‘The time, effort and commitment John has shown to Youghal RNLI over the last 30 years has been outstanding. On behalf of everybody at the lifeboat station, I would like to thank him for the immense contribution he has made over the years and we all wish him well in his future endeavors’.

Notes to editors

· Photo 1 Brendan O’Driscoll, Youghal RNLI Deputy Launching Authority presenting John Innes with a certificate of service.

· Photo 2 John Griffin, Youghal RNLI Deputy Launching Authority presenting John Innes with long service medal.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Lou Stepney, Youghal RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 086 893 0572 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.