The future of the Cabin Fever television series will be decided in the coming days after plans to continue with the programme hit further obstacles yesterday, write Carl O'Brien and Mary Phelan on Tory Island
The nine remaining participants were given a week's "shore leave" as the makers of the reality TV show decide whether they can refloat the €1.5 million series despite the boat's dramatic sinking off Tory Island on Friday.
The series, billed as the biggest TV event of the summer, was dealt a blow after the Department of the Marine yesterday warned that it could not issue a licence for a new boat until a thorough investigation into the accident was completed.
Some of the contestants have also sought legal advice from a well-known solicitor, Mr Gerald Kean, and are said to be exploring potential negligence claims.
A spokeswoman for Coco Television, the makers of Cabin Fever, acknowledged that at the very least the series would be delayed.
"It could go either way at this stage. We're not making a decision yet because the potential is there to continue with it.
"There's a huge amount of work that remains to be done, not least whether the contestants want to continue. It could still happen though," the spokeswoman said.
The third episode in the series was broadcast last night which included footage of the sinking. However, tonight's live episode has been cancelled. Voting in the series has also been suspended until further notice.
A meeting of RTÉ executives and Coco Television to decide the future of the series will be held either today or tomorrow.
There were reports in the weekend media that no one was at the helm at the time the ship ran aground, but these were dismissed by a spokeswoman for Coco Television.
She said all nine contestants, as well as two crew members, had undergone extensive sea safety training courses and that the €300,000 boat had been recently tested to ensure it was seaworthy.
"The safety training stood to them in that they were able to get off the boat safe and well," the spokeswoman said. Seven of the contestants were able to wade to land, while two contestants and two crew were winched to safety by a helicopter after they tried to salvage the boat.
After the rescue, a psychologist was flown to Tory Island to help the contestants deal with the trauma of the rescue.
The remaining participants in the programme, Marie Walsh, Lee Gooch, Neville Fitzpatrick, John Carroll, Dean Ward, Cat Sheridan, Elaine Power, Fiona McGonnell and Andrew Fowler, were taken to Dublin from Tory Island yesterday by coach and onwards to their homes.
Speaking for the first time since the rescue, the contestants last night expressed relief that they made it safely back to dry land.
"I'm a bit shaken," Elaine Power told RTÉ News. "It's quite a scary situation. You had to think fast. I'm just glad to be back on dry land and looking forward to seeing my family."
"It's been a very traumatic 48 hours for all of us," said Andrew Fowler. "We're just going to try and rest now and get back to normality and try and get the head together on it."