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| Family memorial to lost sailors | Family memorial to lost sailors |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Relatives of sailors who died when their ship sank in heavy storms off the Cornish coast have gathered to lay a memorial stone. | Relatives of sailors who died when their ship sank in heavy storms off the Cornish coast have gathered to lay a memorial stone. |
| The Ardgarry went down off the Lizard in 1962 with the loss off all 12 of her crew. The coaster had been carrying coal from Swansea to Rouen in France. | The Ardgarry went down off the Lizard in 1962 with the loss off all 12 of her crew. The coaster had been carrying coal from Swansea to Rouen in France. |
| It is believed the ship capsized in high waves. The wreck was accidentally discovered by divers in 2006. | It is believed the ship capsized in high waves. The wreck was accidentally discovered by divers in 2006. |
| More than 80 family members took part part in the memorial event. | More than 80 family members took part part in the memorial event. |
| Belfast-born brothers Jim and Patrick Slattery have spent the last two years trying to contact other families of the Ardgarry crew and gather them in Cornwall to commemorate their lost relatives. | Belfast-born brothers Jim and Patrick Slattery have spent the last two years trying to contact other families of the Ardgarry crew and gather them in Cornwall to commemorate their lost relatives. |
| Their father, Patrick Slattery, was the Ardgarry's steward and cook.The Ardgarry was carrying coal from Swansea to FranceJim Slattery, who was 13 at the time, said they heard about his death while watching television. | |
| "The news report was about the ship being lost. My mother said 'that's your father's ship' and ran upstairs screaming," he said. | "The news report was about the ship being lost. My mother said 'that's your father's ship' and ran upstairs screaming," he said. |
| It was 29th December 1962 when coastguards received reports of a 600-tonne ship in distress off the Lizard. | It was 29th December 1962 when coastguards received reports of a 600-tonne ship in distress off the Lizard. |
| The Duke of Cornwall lifeboat spent 14 hours searching for the Ardgarry but she had disappeared without a trace. | The Duke of Cornwall lifeboat spent 14 hours searching for the Ardgarry but she had disappeared without a trace. |
| The weather conditions were so severe at the time that it was estimated the lifeboat crew only had a 50:50 chance of surviving themselves. | The weather conditions were so severe at the time that it was estimated the lifeboat crew only had a 50:50 chance of surviving themselves. |
| Bob Roberts, who was one of the lifeboat crew, said: "The waves must have been a good 30ft (9m) high. | Bob Roberts, who was one of the lifeboat crew, said: "The waves must have been a good 30ft (9m) high. |
| "The coxwain gave us the option of either walking off [the lifeboat before it left] or going. It was that bad." | "The coxwain gave us the option of either walking off [the lifeboat before it left] or going. It was that bad." |
| The wreck of an unknown ship was discovered off the Cornish coast by two local divers in 2006. When they described it to a marine historian he confirmed it was the Ardgarry. | The wreck of an unknown ship was discovered off the Cornish coast by two local divers in 2006. When they described it to a marine historian he confirmed it was the Ardgarry. |
| Patrick Slattery was the ship's cook | |
| As soon as they heard the news the Slattery brothers, who are now in their 50s and live in Canada, travelled to the Lizard. | As soon as they heard the news the Slattery brothers, who are now in their 50s and live in Canada, travelled to the Lizard. |
| "I was apprehensive, but it was so peaceful that day. It was a beautiful place and I really felt close to my father," Patrick Slattery recalled. | "I was apprehensive, but it was so peaceful that day. It was a beautiful place and I really felt close to my father," Patrick Slattery recalled. |
| The ship's bell was later raised from the seabed and the brothers say just being able to touch it really helped them. | The ship's bell was later raised from the seabed and the brothers say just being able to touch it really helped them. |
| The families, who travelled to Cornwall from all over the world, attended a special service before laying a memorial stone and throwing flowers onto the water in honour of the Ardgarry crew and the lifeboat men who tried to save them. | |
| Six of the Ardgarry crew were from Northern Ireland, one was from Donegal and five from Scotland. | Six of the Ardgarry crew were from Northern Ireland, one was from Donegal and five from Scotland. |