RIB overturned after failure

The accident happened when a section of tubing at the boat’s bow broke away from the hull.

Video footage taken from a rescuing RNLI craft has shown the upturned hull with the section of the bow tubing, of an estimated metre or more, protruding out to one side from beneath the boat.

The divers had been due back at 10pm on 18 June and had to cling to the boat all night before being located near the Saltee Islands at 6am the next day.

They were airlifted by the Coastguard helicopter from Waterford, while one of four RNLI boats involved towed their stricken craft back to port.

The video footage can be seen at www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=jvPkVsGK