A Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter winchman/paramedic has been honoured in London for his part in a major rescue operation in Co Kerry last year.
Rescue 115 crew member James ‘Jim’ O’Neill has been named the 2026 recipient of the Billy Deacon Award. The prestigious annual accolade recognises outstanding bravery by winch paramedics and/or winch operators from the UK and Irish regions.
Jim was presented with The Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy, along with an inscribed Breitling watch, by RNLI CEO Peter Sparkes, at the Air League’s Annual Reception Ceremony at the House of Commons, London.
The Award is sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Onboard Systems. Jim is a Winch Paramedic with Bristow Ireland who deliver aviation services on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard from bases at Shannon, Weston, Sligo and Waterford.
The 2026 award which recognises rescues carried out in 2025, is for Jim’s role in the rescue of 14 crew members from the 28-metre French fishing vessel ‘Fastnet’, which was driven ashore at the base of cliffs close to Dingle Harbour and was in danger of breaking up, on 14 December 2025.
The fishing vessel ‘Fastnet’ suffered engine failure soon after leaving Dingle Harbour. It was then driven ashore at the base of steep cliffs. Pounded by a relentless Atlantic swell and near gale force winds, it was in danger of capsizing or breaking up, and its 14 crew were in a life-threatening situation.
The Rescue helicopter based at Shannon arrived on scene at 12:20 and its captain and crew prepared for a winching operation. With great skill and precision by Winch Operator Eamonn O’Broin, Jim was placed aboard.
Once on-board Jim was exposed to the full force of the conditions and had to cope with numerous hazards on board the tilting and moving deck. He managed to locate the 14 crew who were sheltering in the wheelhouse. Afraid for their lives and in an anxious state, Jim reassured them, and after locating the best winching area, organised them with a calm assertiveness, for evacuation.
Under extreme pressure and showing superb professionalism in a high-risk environment Jim briefed and prepared the crew for winching. He then prioritised the evacuation order, managed the high line and calmly facilitated the lifting of the crew, two at a time, up to the Rescue helicopter, all while coping with the unstable deck, relentless pounding of the Atlantic swell, near gale force winds and the hazards of the cluttered and slippery deck.
The winching operation took an exhausting 50 minutes to complete, with the helicopter transferring the entire crew in two sorties to a prepared landing site on the cliff top, on completion Jim himself was winched to the safety of the helicopter.
The Winch Operator, Eamonn O’Broin did a tremendous job, ensuring each crew member was assessed and safely seated before continuing.
Throughout this demanding and risky operation, Jim acted with great skill, outright courage and professionalism, which ensured an efficient rescue with no injuries sustained. He is totally deserving of The Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy.
George Rawlinson MBE, Award Committee Chair, said “This incredibly demanding rescue was completed with a calm professionalism, despite considerable personal risk to Jim. Jim showed magnificent leadership skills in organising the 14 crew for evacuation prioritising their safety at considerable risk to himself. His courage in the face of adversity had a direct bearing on the successful outcome.
“Immense credit too, to the Winch Operator Eamonn O’Broin, for his focus and skill throughout this long winching operation. Also, to the Flight Crew of Captain Robert Goodbody and Co-Pilot Paraic Slattery (who is also a Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat volunteer) who managed the safe operation of the aircraft throughout, keeping the helicopter positioned above Fastnet while she pitched dramatically in the swell and ensuring the casualties were safely transported to land.
“This service was a multi-agency response and exemplified good leadership, teamwork and communication, in a very demanding situation and sums up the commitment of those involved to save life at considerable risk to themselves.
“Deserved additional recognition should go to the expert co-ordination of the service by Valentia Coast Guard, and considerable contributions from Valentia RNLI Lifeboat and the Dingle Coastguard Rescue team”
In 2021, another Rescue 115 crew member was honoured with the same award.
Philip Wrenn was part of the crew who saved brothers Giovanni and Ricardo Zanon, after they fell 20 metres from a cliff at a Poll na bPéist (the Worm Hole) on Inis Mór.
The Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy is awarded to winch paramedics and/or winch operators from contracted (MCA) helicopter bases operating in the UK and Irish SAR regions for meritorious service during SAR helicopter operations.
Sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Onboard Systems, the trophy was established in the memory of Mr Billy Deacon, winchman for Bristow, who was tragically lost while carrying out his duty on behalf of the HM Coastguard SAR helicopter based at Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles in 1997.
It was in November 1997 that the merchant vessel Green Lily got into difficulties in extreme weather conditions, hurricane force 12, with 15 crewmembers on board. With the vessel foundering, five crew members were taken off by the Lerwick Lifeboat, a feat honoured by the coxswain receiving the RNLI’S Gold Medal, its highest award for gallantry, often referred to as the lifeboatmen’s VC. As the Lifeboat was unable to recover the rest of the crew, and with the Green Lily very close to the rocky shoreline, the remaining crew had to rely on the SAR helicopter for rescue.
In mountainous seas, Billy was winched down to the deck of the vessel. Once on board he placed the remaining crewmembers, two at a time, in the rescue strops and they were all winched to the safety of the helicopter. As the helicopter was in the process of recovering Billy, who was alone on the deck and with the ship now on the rocks, he was washed overboard and engulfed by the waves. In recognition of Billy’s outstanding courage and bravery in the most severe and demanding conditions, he was posthumously awarded the George Medal.