Maritime milestone for lifeboat’s David
A double dose of call-outs last Wednesday resulted in Oban RNLI lifeboat crew member David Isaac reaching his 500th ‘shout’.
It was a busy day for Oban lifeboat’s volunteer crew, first launching at 8am to assist a barge in difficulty before answering a ‘mayday’ call for an overdue diver in the Sound of Mull.
The lifeboat left the berth once again, making best speed to the Salen area where it was joined by Tobermory RNLI lifeboat and the Coastguard rescue helicopter.
CalMac ferries diverted course to assist but thankfully there was good news
and the diver was located safe and well shortly after the lifeboat arrived on scene.
David, a fisherman by trade, first joined Oban lifeboat 20 years ago. By 2006, he passed out as a deputy coxswain on station.
Last year alone he clocked up 55 hours and 526 miles on board the lifeboat.
When asked about his service, David said: ‘It’s hard to pick a most memorable shout, but I have been picked up off my fishing boat several times when the pager has gone off. I’ve also cut short an anniversary dinner!’
Reflecting on his time at
the station, he continued: ‘As a boy growing up and watching the lifeboat launch, it was something I always admired, so it was a big milestone for me when I joined the crew and a huge honour passing out as a coxswain.
‘To be the one at the helm with such a good crew backing each other up is a real privilege.’
David is one of thousands of volunteer crew members around the coast who drop everything at any time to respond to their pagers.
Without such commitment and dedication the RNLI wouldn’t be able to continue saving lives at sea.