THE daughter of a Barmouth harbourmaster who tragically lost his life at sea 12 years ago is to face her fear of heights in memory of her father.

Keith Allday, coxswain of Barmouth RNLI lifeboat, and Alan Massey, helm of the inshore lifeboat at Barmouth, tragically lost their lives in 2004 whilst laying moorings in the town’s Harbour.

Now Keith’s daughter Kate Allday, 22, will take part in the fundraising skydive to honour their memory and raise funds for the RNLI charity.

Father-of-five Keith, 54, combined his role as coxswain of Barmouth RNLI with his duties as Barmouth harbour master.

He and assistant Harbour Master Alan, a 37-year-old father-of-one, were laying moorings in the harbour when the upsetting accident happened.

No one witnessed what happened, but the alarm was raised after their capsized boat was spotted off the coast and it was established that neither men had returned home from work on April 5, 2004.

Keith and Alan’s crewmates on Barmouth lifeboat were among the emergency services involved in the search for the two men, which went on for more than 24 hours.

Sadly, Keith’s body was discovered the following day and Alan’s a few weeks later.

Kate, who will do the skydive on the 12th anniversary of the accident on 5 April, said she had seen her father go out on rescue missions with Barmouth lifeboat again and again during her childhood, but only truly understood the importance of what RNLI volunteers did after she lost her father.

She said: “On that tragic night, all search and rescue crews were amazing and did everything they physically could to help.

“The Barmouth lifeboat crew were exceptionally incredible.

“They had lost two friends and still managed to work through the night, in awful weather condition, to search for them.

“These men were incredible, and will always live on as my heroes.

“This is my way to give back to them and also the crew that have done so much for us.

“Since I was a very young child, the Barmouth crew have been like a second family to me.

“The lifeboat was such an important part of my childhood, and the RNLI will always be a charity close to my heart.

“This skydive is to say thank you to each lifeboat volunteer for everything they do, day after day, in all conditions to help anyone in need at sea. It is also in memory of both my dad and Alan.”

Despite a fear of heights, Kate will take to the skies above Whitchurch in Shropshire for the skydive.

She hopes to raise at least £500 for the RNLI.

Barmouth RNLI Coxswain Peter Davies, who was being trained up by Keith to succeed him as coxswain at the time of the accident in 2004, said: “Both Keith and Alan were highly respected members of the harbour community and dedicated members of the lifeboat crew in Barmouth and losing two colleagues in such tragic circumstances was a huge blow to the crew and to the whole town.

“Kate is showing immense strength and bravery undertaking this fund-raising challenge and she has the full support of everyone at Barmouth RNLI.

“The money she raises will help train and equip our lifeboat crews so we can continue to best fulfil our mission of saving lives at sea.”

Last year Barmouth RNLI lifeboats launched 24 times and rescued 26 people, including saving two lives.

Crew members spent a total of 922 hours at sea between rescues services and training exercises.

To make a donation to Kate’s fundraising appeal visit www.justgiving.com/Kate-Allday/.