FIVE Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers who “tragically and selflessly” lost their lives when their boat capsized during a call out are to be commemorated in Fraserburgh.
Tuesday marks 50 years since the Duchess of Kent lifeboat was launched to aid Danish fishing vessel Opal. On January 21, 1970, a day of exceptionally bad weather, distress signals were reported 40 miles out to sea shortly after 7am, when the fishing vessel with four people on board sprung a leak. Coxswain John Stephen was in command of the six-man volunteer RNLI crew, who had deployed by 7.34am.
In that time a Russian ship had already applied the tow. The lifeboat was tasked with escorting both vessels back to port. However, it was at that point that disaster struck.
A huge wave capsized the lifeboat. When the ship was righted with assistance from the Russian vessel, the bodies of four of the crew were found trapped inside the hull and one crew member was missing.
John Stephen and crew members William Hadden, James Buchan and James R S Buchan, along with the missing mechanic Frederick Kirkness, lost their lives. Crew member John Buchan was picked up by the Russian ship after being flung clear during the capsize.
RNLI volunteers and dignitaries, as well as Princess Anne, will attend a commemorative service at Fraserburgh Old Parish Church to mark the occasion. Wreaths will also be laid at a statue which honours the victims outside the lifeboat station.
Mark Hadden (left), whose grandfather lost his life in the disaster, has been a crew member of the Fraserburgh lifeboat station since 2018. He said: “These men were local Fraserburgh men. They went out in the most appalling weather conditions regardless of what could happen and what the outcome would be.
“They went out to save the lives of others – and in doing so tragically, and selflessly, lost their own lives. ... I hope that we will always take the time to remember their sacrifice.”
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