‘One of the finest acts of selflessness and courage of recent times’
RNLI STATION AND CREW HONOURED FOR DRAMATIC SURFER RESCUE
TREARDDUR Bay’s RNLI station has made history by becoming the first to receive a Silver Gallantry Medal, for saving a surfer in an Atlantic 85 vessel rescue.
One silver and three bronze medals have been awarded to the volunteer Anglesey RNLI crew who also helped on May 20.
The silver accolade has been awarded to helm Lee Duncan “in recognition of his leadership, seamanship, and exemplary boat handling in treacherous sea and weather conditions”.
Bronze medals have also been awarded to the volunteer crew, Dafydd Griffiths, Leigh Mccann and Michael Doran, “recognising their courage and selflessness during the difficult rescue”.
Trearddur Bay’s lifeboat crew had been alerted at 7.20pm that two surfers were in difficulty off Anglesey during severe gales.
One made it back to shore ahead of crews arriving, but the other was still struggling around 100 metres off the coast near to Cod Rocks.
The Atlantic 85 lifeboat and
RNLI volunteers had to deal with stormy weather and offshore rocks as they made a “run” at the surfer while trying to avoid getting into difficulty themselves.
The lifeboat reached the mouth of the bay and the crew observed the surfer in a precarious position 10 metres from Cod Rocks.
The incoming swell was breaking up and over the rock face and the casualty was being pushed towards the rocks at a steady rate.
The surfer was clearly struggling to keep her head above water and was continually being forced under the surface.
With wind blowing a constant 45 knots, Helm Duncan executed numerous skilled manoeuvres to reach the casualty.
At the same time he ensured the crew and lifeboat were kept as safe as possible while the rescue was being carried out.
At the time, Helm Duncan said: “The conditions were treacherous with a strong southwesterly blowing in excess of 50mph. We were operating right at the limit of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat.
“We had pretty much our most experienced crew on board – three helms and the lifeboat training officer – and I think in my 20 years on the crew at Trearddur Bay that was the most touch and go shout I have been on.”
Crew member Daf Griffiths added: “We knew we had only one chance to get her, with the size of the waves hitting the headland.
“Had we failed, I don’t like to think what could have happened, to her or us.
“Lee showed exceptional boat-handling skill. It would have been impossible to make a second run.” Lee Firman, RNLI area lifesaving manager for North Wales, said of Helm Duncan: “His command of the demanding and stressful situation, coupled with the bond and respect between this experienced crew, meant the crew did not waver when they were placed in a treacherous position less than a boat’s length from rocks which, with one wrong manoeuvre, could have seen the boat and crew smashed against the rock face.”
Mr Firman added: “Crew members Griffiths, Mccann and Doran performed their duties flawlessly and worked as a team to recover the casualty onboard and keeping her safe during the horrendous onslaught of seas as they made their way back to deeper water, without any regard for their own safety in such conditions.”
He added: “Without doubt, in full view of their RNLI colleagues and admiring public onshore, the crew that evening performed one of the finest acts of selflessness and courage of recent times, which resulted in the saving of the life of a female surfer.”
The entire RNLI Trearddur Bay team involved in the dramatic rescue will be recognised with a Chief Executive’s Commendation.
The RNLI has also recognised the role the part played by lifeboat operations manager Paul Moffett, who will be awarded a Chief Executive’s Commendation.
This is in recognition of his considered launch decisionmaking, coordination of the shore-side activities during the rescue, and meeting the welfare needs of the crew and casualty on their return to the station.
Volunteer tractor driver Mark Smith will also receive a Director of Operations Commendation, having “conducted a superb execution of the launch and recovery operations in difficult and dangerous sea conditions where he was exposed to the elements throughout”.
Mr Moffett said: “The courage displayed by the crew in assisting the casualty at the expense of their own safety really is quite something.
“That is what RNLI volunteers do and is what they’re trained to do, but this particular incident will stay with us all for a very long time.
“RNLI crew do not do this for the recognition. However, to be awarded in this way by the Institution and for Trearddur Bay to make history by becoming the first station to be awarded a Silver Medal for an Atlantic 85 rescue really does fill me with an immense sense of pride.”
The last Silver Medal awarded by the RNLI was in 2013, to the helmsman of a D-class inshore lifeboat at Port Isaac.
The presentation of the award to the Trearddur Bay crew will be arranged at a later date.