On Saturday 22nd July 2000, Mr. Jim Donovan accompanied by his 15 year old son Keith and 13 year old friend Michael McInerney were pleasure boating in Kilkee bay. The weather conditions were excellent, hot and sunny with a slight off shore breeze giving flat sea conditions. Mr. Donovan was using a 5.5 meter Zodiac RiB with a single 90 h.p. outboard engine. The Zodiac was new, fully equipped and in excellent condition. At approx. 17.00 hrs Mr. Donovan left the Zodiac in the care of the 2 boys for 10 mins in order to get a friend who wished to go boating with the group. The boys were instructed to mind the Zodiac until Jim returned. The boys decided to take the boat for a "spin", steamed out the bay, hit some disturbed water and lost control of the craft. Michael McInerney was thrown overboard and clear of the craft. Michael was recovered from the water by Kevin Cronin who was boating in a 5 meter RiB nearby. Keith Donovan, however held onto the steering wheel of the Zodiac while hanging out of the boat on the starboard side. Keith, by holding onto the steering wheel in this position, locked the Zodiac into a tight clockwise circling pattern. The Zodiac was travelling a considerable speed, completing a full circle every 2 - 3 sec. Keith, being unable to maintain his hold on the steering wheel, slipped into the water. As the "deadman switch" was not activated the Zodiac continued to circle around Keith at speed (approx. 20-25 knots).

Having recovered Michael from the water, Kevin Cronin not having a VHF radio on board showed great presence of mind immediately sped to the location of a nearby Kilkee Dive Center boat and raised the alarm. A 2nd Kilkee Dive Center boat, a 6.5 meter Tornado equipped with twin 75 h.p. outboards with Frank Cosgrove as coxswain and a group of local divers was about to leave the slipway when the alarm was raised. On board the dive boat were John Cosgrove, father of Frank, and Eamon Nunan, all three experienced members of the Kilkee Rescue Service, along with 4 other local divers. The Tornado picked up the VHF call and immediately sped to the scene, a distance of about 500 meters. On arrival at the scene, the situation was immediately assessed. Keith, wearing a life jacket, was treading water in the center of circle being made by the now out of control unmanned Zodiac and managing to avoid being hit.

The Tornado decided to attempt to "bull" the Zodiac away from Keith by hitting it sideways on the starboard side. This proved to be a very difficult maneuver as there was little distance between Keith and the circling Zodiac. In the process of attempting this maneuver, the Zodiac hit the Tornado on the starboard side towards the stern, mounted the pontoon before being pushed away. It was decided to back off the scene for fear of disturbing the path of the Zodiac and causing it to hit the Keith. John Cosgrove, as senior member of the Rescue Service decided to lighten the load on the Tornado and transferred the other divers to the 2nd Dive Center boat which by now had arrived at the scene.

The Tornado with Frank, John and Eamon on board returned to the scene and circled to assess the situation. John manned the radio, activated the emergency plan and coordinated the rescue attempt. It was decided to hold off for fear of disturbing the path of the Zodiac and formulate a plan of action. Keith, in the meantime acting on shouted instruction from the Tornado managing to keep circling, was bravely managing to keep circling in the water, watching the Zodiac and moving out off itâs path.

Unfortunately the Zodiac skipped on itâs own wash and hit Keith. It was decided that an immediate attempt to recover Keith from the water was necessary to avoid a fatality. John told Frank to use his own judgement as to the approach. The Tornado tried to turn inside the Zodiac but as it was a bigger boat with a twins against a single engine boat, this was not possible. Frank put the Tornado into a wider arc, powered across the stern of the Zodiac and positioned the Tornado between the Zodiac and Keith, hitting the Zodiac on its starboard side with his port side. The danger of this maneuver was that the Tornado could have been pushed onto Keith. Eamon managed to secure Keith by the life jacket and with Johnâs assistance lift Keith into the boat as the Zodiac hit the Tornado on the stern. The "clear" signal was immediately given and Frank steamed away from the immediate danger area. Eamon, as with all members of the Kilkee Rescue Service, being First Aid trained did an immediate assessment of the injuries to Keith. John, manning the radio contacted the Kilkee Rescue Service base who activated the emergency services. Frank steamed to the slipway while John and Eamon applied immediate First Aid to Keith. Immediate assessment showed that Keith being in great pain suffered a broken left arm, dislocation of both shoulders, severe laceration to the left arm on the biceps and laceration to the lower abdomen. The time span from initial call to pickup was approx. 5 minutes.

On arrival at the slipway, a short distance away, other members of the Kilkee Rescue Service were waiting with First Aid Kit, stretcher and Oxygen. Immediate and primary First Aid was administered to Keith while on the Tornado. Keith was then placed on a stretcher and transferred to the Kilkee Rescue Service Center. A local doctor, Dr. Regan arrived shortly afterwards and administered medical attention with the aid of members of the Kilkee Rescue Service. When the ambulance arrived the medical personnel decided that Keith injuries were too severe and in too much pain to attempt transfer to hospital in Cork by road. Kilkee Rescue Service decided to contact Valentia Radio and request transfer by helicopter. This request was granted and Keith was transferred to the local football pitch by ambulance where he was transferred to the Rescue Helicopter and flown to Cork Hospital.

On arrival at Cork Hospital a team of surgeons was waiting and after 5 hours of surgery his left arm was saved and all other injuries treated. Keith is expected to be in hospital for about 4 weeks and in time make a complete recovery.

In writing this report it must be stated that great credit must go to Frank Cosgrove who at 22 years old showed great bravery, maturity and decision making ability allied with skilled boat handling, much belying his young years.