Explosion aboard Guernsey Collier

Holiday makers and residents helped St John Ambulance men as they carried a seriously injured seaman by stretcher up Clovelly’s cobbled High Street.
The seaman, Patrick Hagan, of Gleneravon, County Antrim, was one of three brought ashore by Clovelly lifeboat following an explosion aboard the 95- tons ss Rocquaine while she was sheltering in Lundy Roads. The two other men were Able Seaman Alexander Oboyle and Able Seaman Patrick Murray, both of Glenariff, County Antrim.
The Rocquaine, owned by Messrs Dorey and Sons, Guernsey, was on her way from Cardiff to Guernsey with a cargo of coal.
At 9.30am the three injured men were engaged in trimming cargo in the forward hold when an explosion occurred.
Hartland Point Coastguards picked up the distress call and passed the message to Clovelly where the lifeboat was launched under Coxswain George Lamey.
The two less seriously injured men were able to walk ashore from the lifeboat and they were taken by the Red Lion jeep to the top of the village.
At the Quayside, the men were attended by Dr W McIntosh, the locum tenens for Dr W K Somerton, of Hartland, and by members of the Bideford St John Ambulance Brigade.
Through the courtesy of Mr R G Lovell, of HM Customs, Appledore, and Capt John Hobbs, ship broker, the Vicar of Appledore, Rev H C A S Muller, who is honorary representative of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, was advised of the arrival of the two sailors at Bideford Hospital. He was to arrange to communicate with their relatives and also advised Rev Father C Scanlan.

 

Gazette article dated 28 September 1951