Going the extra mile
By Sinéad Flanagan - editor@meathpost.com - Meath Post - Tuesday 26th February 2008

Having tragically lost his sister to the sea, one man now gives a huge portion of his time to helping families who are in the same situation as he once was.

Dairy farmer Thomas Daly from the Kentstoswn Road in Navan had been coming to tems with the tragedy four years ago when he got involved with the Boyne Fishermen's Rescue & Recovery Service. A completely voluntarily run service, the crew of approx. 35 people (including five women), give their time and energy to saving people from the waters of Ireland and also helping to find people who may not have been so lucky. In the Drogheda area 16 people from the service have pagers on their person all of the time. That's why ''if someone falls into the water in Drogheda, ''we'll he there within two minutes." Thomas says. Their pager system is wired through Caffery's Cabs in the town so as soon as anything happens, the company will set off their pagers and from there the rescue begins.

Instant action
"If a member gets a call, three are called straight away. We'd send texts or call each other," he says. In a search situation, the teams will alternate their days as more often than not they will have to take time off work to help with it. Last year, the unit had 43 calls to deal With of people either needing rescue or helping to recover a body, from the water.

When asked how he deals emotionally with the situation of helping with a search he says 'you switch on what I call 'search mode'. You just try and block out the rest. You can see a family there on the side of lake or river and you just want to help them."

Thomas got involved with the group, partly by accident initially. ''I didnt actually decide. We were up there holding a benefit night for the North Eastern Friesian Bleeders in Drogheda and Michael Hodgins - (Chairman) asked me would I join. So I said I didn't think I'd he able so six weeks; later he called and said are you busy!" and from there he hasn't looked back. "I say to everyone I'm the only person who's not a volunteer," he laughs. Though, he adds that he is glad he did join and feels he gets a lot out of it.

"I played rugby for years and with the one team. But there's something much tighter with the members on this team than on any other," he says.

Having been on dozens of rescues and searches and travelled the length and breath of the country to do them, Thomas has had to deal with more than most. However, when asked about his experiences he says "there's an kind of unwritten rule that we don't talk about individual situations out of respect for the families". Though he adds that it can be very, difficult in a search situation where the families are waiting for news but also "a sense of relief for them as it can help to bring closure in some situations.

Ihough it can be a very dangerous job at times, Thomas says: "We're all pretty well trained. We've 16 divers on our books he too is a diver). Our number one priority is our own safety, and we've four members who are commercially trained divers.

A demanding job
"Most are trained in first aid and we've onemember who's also in the Red Cross." The job can be very demanding time-wise particularly if they have to travel down the country to do it. "I'm very lucky with Steve (who helps him on the farm). If Steve wasn't here it'd he very' very, difficult to go on any search," Thomas says.

"You're always on call. If you're going out for the night you'd call in and say you're leaving your pager at home but there have been times when people have been told they can't because they might he a few lads who have called in before them who won't be on call," he says. But, adds that it's just one of those things that you have to get on with.

The Boyne Fishermen's Rescue & Recovery Service is run completely by volunteers. With little funding from the government Thomas says Without the support of locals, it would be impossible for them to build their boathouse and get the equipment that they need for the job. The service is presently looking for new recruits so if you fancy getting involved log onto: www.bfrrs.net for more details.