The Crossing
The Crossing tells story of one month in the LÉ Samuel Beckett’s deployment in the southern Mediterranean. Watch the documentary on RTÉ Player.
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"We didn't actually realise they were women or that they were pregnant until we hauled them onto the deck. You have three minutes you can save somebody. We started working on those two women."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"The screams are definitely one thing I won't forget in a hurry. Its going to haunt me for a long time to be honest."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"They have never seen the ocean before, they might as well be in space."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"Some boats wouldn't get more than 50 miles off the coast with the fuel they have on board yet you are talking another 400kms at least to get to an Italian port."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"It was horrific, it was something we have never witnessed."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"Its the people who are not screaming that you have to get to."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016LÉ Samuel Beckett Rescues 508* Migrants During Search & Rescue Operations 50 Nautical Miles NW of Tripoli
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"The family of four brothers had travelled together. Only the two older ones had made it. Unfortunately the two younger ones had been lost in the rescue."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"We recovered 772 people from the barge. There was no casualties, no fatalities. Everyone one of us came back. We were so proud."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016"There was 120 people on the boat, we saved 110/112 but it felt like a defeat when we came in."
Photo © Irish Defence Forces 2016