We've been overwhelmed by support from the community, says dad after death of lifeboat volunteer Ryan

The father of Ryan Davidson says he has been "overwhelmed" by the response from the community following the death of the 25-year-old fisherman and lifeboat volunteer.

Kevin Davidson paid tribute to his son's achievements, his "happy-go-lucky" nature and the way he had touched so many people.

Ryan, who lived in Thurso, passed away five months after being diagnosed with cancer. His funeral was held on Friday. “It has been a tough battle," Kevin admitted.

Covid-19 rules meant only 20 people could attend the service but RNLI crew members and representatives of the emergency services were among those who stood in silent tribute, socially distanced, as the hearse passed Scrabster harbour in front of the lifeboat. Members of the public lined the streets to show their respects as the funeral procession continued towards Thurso cemetery, where RNLI members formed a further guard of honour.

A GoFundMe page in memory of Ryan has raised £30,000 in donations to be divided between Thurso lifeboat and the Fishermen's Mission.

“I was overwhelmed with the response," Kevin (50) said. "The generosity and the kindness and the support from the community was just unbelievable. It was very touching and moving.”

The Davidsons have a proud record of service with the RNLI. Kevin has been part of the crew for 31 years, while Ryan's older brother Lewis (29) has served for 12 years and has acted as coxswain.

Ryan joined the lifeboat five years ago, and he had worked as a fisherman on the Wick-registered Boy Andrew since 2018.

He had been due to marry his partner Nicola McTurk next year. Kevin explained: “He had a wedding fund, but instead of getting presents he just wanted donations to go to Thurso RNLI.”

Ryan was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma in October and spent four months undergoing treatment at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Kevin was at his side throughout, having taken time off from his job as a firefighter / ambulance technician with the Dounreay fire and ambulance service.

“It was a hard, hard thing to take," Kevin said. "He was diagnosed on October 18 and got out then on palliative care on February 20, so he got one month at home.

“I’ve come across a lot of trauma, between the lifeboat and the fire and ambulance service, but nothing prepares you for when it’s your own child."

Kevin had been pleased to see Lewis and Ryan maintain the family's strong links with the RNLI.

“Coming from Scrabster, there is always a strong bond with the lifeboat," Kevin explained. "Both my uncles [Billy and Neil Farquhar] were in the RNLI and I knew a lot of people in the RNLI when I was a child, so it was quite a natural progression to go there.

“Myself, Lewis and Ryan have been on some tragic shouts and some with a good ending. The RNLI background is very strong in my family and Ryan, in his five years, did cram an awful lot into it.”

He touched so many people from all areas and from all groups.

Ryan had felt he was "living the dream" by combining his work as a fisherman with his voluntary role on Thurso lifeboat.

"He had done his joiner trade first and decided enough was enough, he was going to throw the hammer in the Pentland Firth and he was going to go to the fishing," recalled Kevin, whose father Forbes Davidson was a fish salesman with local firm John S Duncan for 50 years.

"My father had a strong connection with the late Norrie Bremner [owner of the original Boy Andrew] for a lot of years. Ryan managed to get a trial run on the Boy Andrew, because there wasn’t really a job for him initially, but he took to it like a duck to water and he excelled in it.

"He always said he was living the dream."

Kevin recalled how thrilled Ryan had been when he was officially taken on as a crew member of the Boy Andrew and received his coveted jacket: “When he got his Boy Andrew jacket it was like getting the Golden Fleece."

As a youngster, Ryan had shown great promise as a footballer. He captained the Halkirk school football team, then went on to Caithness United before playing for both Wick Academy and Brora Rangers at under-17 level as a central midfielder.

In everything he did, Ryan found it easy to make friends.

“He was a happy-go-lucky chap. He had a cheeky face, full of devilment," Kevin said.

“He was a character. He touched so many people from all areas and from all groups. He was certainly well thought of in the community.

"There were a couple of old guys who used to come into the lifeboat station and he got on really well with them.

"He could mix with the older generation and then go to the younger generation. He was great with the former coxswain, ‘Wing’ Munro.

“What he has achieved has been quite incredible. The lifeboat community is a big family and with myself and the two loons and my uncle Billy before that, and my uncle Neil as well, we’ve been heavily involved with it.”

The fundraising appeal is likely to stay open for another week.

Ryan was stepdad to Lucy and Dylan. Ryan's mum, Samantha Mackay, lives in Thurso, and he had two other brothers, Murray and Scott. Ryan's stepfather is Jock Mackay.

Kevin and his partner Karen Munro live in Scrabster.

Thurso RNLI press officer Ron Gunn said: “Ryan was a very popular member of Thurso RNLI crew and was also very well known and liked in the wider community. This was demonstrated by the huge number of folk that came out to show their respects and in the very generous amount that has been donated to the fund set up in his memory.”

Before the funeral service on Friday, crew members from Thurso lifeboat along with representatives from Wick and Longhope RNLI, the coastguard service and Scottish Ambulance Service joined family and friends at Scrabster as the hearse passed. Crew members of the Boy Andrew were also at the harbour.

On the streets of Thurso, friends and personnel from Thurso and Dounreay fire stations turned out to show their respects to Ryan.

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