Stronsay, Orkneys. At 10.40 a.m. on 8th January, 1965, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Danish gunboat Vaedderen had a seriously sick man, the skipper of Grimsby trawler Northern Chief, on board and was proceeding to Stronsay. It was agreed that the life-boat would intercept the gunboat off Auskerry lighthouse and stand by whilst the sick man was lifted off by helicopter. There was a near gale from the south-west and a rough sea. The tide was flooding. The life-boat The John Gellatly Hyndman proceeded at 11.10 with the motor mechanic in command and came up with the Vaedderen at 11.55 when they awaited the arrival of a helicopter from Lossiemouth. The helicopter lifted the sick man after two attempts and conveyed him to Kirkwall where an air ambulance was waiting to convey the patient to Renfrew. The life-boat returned to her station arriving at 1.50 p.m..