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 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 this year’s award at a special ceremony in the Houses of Parliament for his role in rescuing the crew of to the Fastnet fishing vessel, which ran aground in rough seas on 14 December, 2025, close to the entrance to Dingle Harbour.
Responding to the scene, a crew from the Bristow Ireland / Irish Coast Guard search and rescue base at Shannon Airport, crew members Robert Goodbody, Paraic Slattery, Éamonn Ó Broin and Jim O’Neill arrived to find the vessel already floundering in dangerous conditions.
In a swift but careful operation, coordinated on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard, including fixed-wing aircraft Rescue 120F, the Valentia RNLI all-weather lifeboat and the Dingle Coast Guard Unit, the team set about bringing all the crew to safety.
And, while it was a team effort, it was the personal bravery and skill of Winch/Paramedic Jim O’Neill, who was winched down onto the violently pitching vessel, which has been recognised by the 2026 Billy Deacon Award.
Bristow Director Irish SAR, Philip Bartlett, said: “Jim and the whole team are worthy of congratulations for this superbly managed rescue. It was demanding and challenging, with no small amount of personal risk, but it was delivered, as always, with skill, commitment and professionalism.
Congratulations to Jim for the richly deserved Billy Deacon Award and to everyone else who helped save 14 lives that day.”
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.
