A 15 year old youth ran up to a group of fishermen by the harbour at Dunbar, East Lothian, and told them that his brother had been washed off the rocks at the harbour entrance.

Coxswain Robert Brunton, who was present with some of his crew, realising every moment was vital, decided to launch immediately.

He then telephoned the Coastguard to inform them of his intentions. Meanwhile they had sighted the casualty themselves and were already firing maroons.

The Dunbar life-boat Margaret slipped her moorings at 2.20 on 23rd December, 1970, and made for the area. The weather was very cold, with rain, and there was a northerly gale force wind. There was a heavy swell with a rough confused sea in the harbour entrance.

Coxswain Brunton had some difficulty handling the life-boat through the narrow harbour entrance, but once clear headed for the reported position about 200 yards north of the entrance.

As he came up to this position he received instructions by radio from the Coastguard, who could see the casualty from the look out.

At 2.23 a man was sighted face down and barely floating. He was supported by the air locked in his clothes. The coxswain headed towards the man, but had some difficulty in closing, owing to the backwash from the rocks.

As he manoeuvred for the second time, David Brunton, a member of the life-boat crew, dived into the sea and swam towards the man who was now about 10 yards away. He reached the man just as he began to sink and was able to support him as the life-boat came up.

Second Coxswain Alexander Wilson then threw a breeches buoy on a line towards the man in the water but it fell short. It now became apparent that David Brunton was also in some difficulty and as the life-boat again approached, a second crew member, Jonathan Alston, who was wearing a life-jacket, jumped into the sea to give assistance. By holding on the life lines around the life-boat, he helped to support them both. The unconscious man and both crew members were taken aboard and Coxswain Brunton, who was concerned about the survivor's condition, headed back to harbour.

Assistant Mechanic Andrew Smith started to give the unconscious man direct mouth-tomouth resuscitation immediately he was brought aboard. On transferring him to the after cabin,the second coxswain, who is also a first aider, took over and managed to re-start the man's breathing. They kept this up until the life-boat returned to harbour at 2.45 and the man was treated by a doctor. After this he was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was treated for injuries. The life-boat returned to her moorings at 2.52.

The Committee of Management made the following awards: bronze medal to crew member David Brunton; the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum to crew member Jonathan Alston; framed letters of thanks signed by the Institution's Chairman to Coxswain Brunton, Second Coxswain Wilson, Assistant Motor Mechanic Andrew Smith, Crew members W. Brunton and R. Marr..