[2] On the 30 January 1854, the brig Lady Octavia, on passage to Glasgow from Brazil, was wrecked at Malin Head, in a south-west gale.

The Master and three crew were rescued after a line was brought to the ship by Coastguard James Fitzpatrick, who waded out through the surf at great personal risk.

[3] Ever since its founding in 1824, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), later to become the RNLI in 1854, would award medals for deeds of gallantry at sea, even if no lifeboats were involved.

[6] The lifeboat was then let down the slipway to the water by means of the windlass, and boarded by the crew, wearing their blue jerseys, red caps and life-belts.

Fishermen from the island had headed over to the mainland for provisions three weeks earlier, but had been unable to return due to the poor weather, leaving the remaining residents desperately short of food and fuel.

Launched a second time at 15:35, the lifeboat finally made it to the island, landing with considerable difficulty in dark and rough conditions.