The survivors, family and friends of those lost in a tragedy that happened 37 years ago off Arranmore came back to the island on Saturday to thank all those involved in the search and rescue operation and to donate £10,000 to the station.
On 28 July, 1989, a group of English students were visiting Arranmore when their boat got into trouble when returning to Eichter Island.
On leaving Arranmore, the weather and sea conditions suddenly changed, and the boat ended up on rocks with those onboard thrown into the sea.
One of those was John Whitting who managed to swim to Arranmore and raise the alarm when he arrived at a house.
The owner Mary Conlon phoned her brother John O’Donnell who was the Coxswain and mechanic on the lifeboat at the time and a search and rescue operation got underway.
Speaking during his visit to the station on Saturday, John Whitting thanked the lifeboat crew, all those involved in the operation and the wider Arranmore community for their help and kindness at the time.
The family also laid a wreath at sea in memory of those lost including Matthew Halifax, Isobel Price-Lloyd, Alexander Ricketts and Justin Arbuthnott.
Arranmore RNLI presented John and Samantha with a framed copper map of Arranmore.
