Exmouth, Devon. At 7.25 on the evening of the 7th October, 1961, the honorary secretary was informed by the port medical officer that a member of the crew of the Liberian tanker George Champion had severe cuts in an arm and needed medical help urgently.

At 7.55 the life-boat George and Sarah Strachan left her moorings with the port medical officer on board in a light north-westerly breeze and a moderate sea. It was two and a half hours after high water. The life-boat met the tanker six miles south of Beer Head, and the medical officer was put aboard her.

After receiving attention the injured man was lowered into the life-boat, which returned to Exmouth, arriving at eleven o'clock. The injured seaman was taken by ambulance to hospital..