Exhausting Cliff Service THE Barmouth, Merionethshire, IRB on 21st June, 1971, was requested to help in evacuating a badly injured woman who had fallen down cliff's at Friog. In view of the prevailing weather conditions the life-boat was ordered to be launched as well to back up the IRB. Dr. Robert A. Haworth, who is a regular crew member, joined the rescue team in case the casualty needed on-the-spot treatment.

The wind was south west force 7 with heavy rain squalls and poor visibility due to the rain and a sea mist. The sea in the harbour was slight, but there was a heavy breaking sea on the bar. The IRB was launched at 4.3 p.m. and the bar was negotiated with difficulty. The life-boat was launched seven minutes later and followed the IRB. During her passage over the bar she was swept from stem to stern by two heavy breaking waves.

The IRB arrived at the scene of the casualty at about 4.20. The woman had fallen over cliffs about 80 feet high and was lying on a small beach at the foot of the cliff. Two policemen, a mountain rescue expert, and two of the injured woman's party were on the beach with a stretcher, but were unable to get the casualty up the cliff due to the overhang. The beach was gradually being covered by the rising tide, and at this time there was about 25 feet of beach left exposed. The IRB lay off for a while assessing the situation and the best place to land. Cliff Service The beach in this area consists of large boulders up to 6 feet in diameter, interspersed with smaller boulders and large pebbles. The wind was south west force 6 to 7 and there was a rough sea and heavy swell running in obliquely to the beach. This swell was about 10 feet high and the surf breaking on the boulders and the beach was about 5 feet high. Spray was being thrown about 25 feet into the air as the surf hit the large stones and the base of the cliff. There were heavy rain squalls and a sea mist reduced visibility.

Having decided on their approach, the IRB approached the beach at speed to prevent broaching and at the last minute the engine was cut and tilted, the momentum carrying the IRB towards the beach. The IRB struck several of the boulders during its final approach, fortunately without damage. Then the crew jumped out to turn the IRB head to sea, but they were unable to get a good footing on the uneven beach and the IRB was swamped by two large waves.

She was man-handled to the beach and, while two of the crew tended the boat, the doctor examined the casualty.

The doctor decided that the woman must be evacuated as quickly as possible due to the serious nature of her injuries and the rising tide. The mountain rescue expert thought that it would take at least four hours to get the stretcher up the cliff. It was therefore decided to take the casualty off in the IRB as this was the quickest means of evacuation.

Conditions appeared to be marginally better in the next cove to the north and it was decided to attempt the evacuation from there. The IRB was launched with great difficulty with the assistance of the people on the beach. In spite of having been swamped, the engine started readily. In getting the IRB off, the engine struck a boulder, but damage was restricted to the propeller and did not affect the performance seriously. The doctor remained ashore during this launch, the IRB being crewed by the two remaining members.

The IRB made a run into the second cove as before, but this time the men on the beach were in the water in order to catch and turn the boat as she came in. To do this they had to wade in shoulder high and the surf occasionally broke over them. The IRB landed successfully, this time without being swamped, although she again struck several of the boulders. The casualty was carried round from the first cove, and as the tide was flowing this meant clambering over rocks to keep her dry. She was strapped in the mountain rescue stretcher and had been covered with a plastic bag to reduced the risk of exposure.

After placing the casualty in the IRB preparations were made for launching. The helmsman was in the boat ready to start the engine and the remainder of the men waded in with the boat. To get the boat into deep enough water to start the engine safely meant that the helpers were immersed shoulder high and seas were breaking over them. Several times they lost their footing due to the uneven nature of the bottom.

The engine again started readily and as the crew scrambled aboard with difficulty the engine was put in gear and the IRB cleared the beach at the first attempt.

The urgent requirement was to get the casualty to hospital as soon as possible. It was known that an ambulance was waiting at the Friog end of Fairbourne beach, and, in consultation with the life-boat coxswain, it was decided to land the casualty there rather than risk the passage back to Barmouth in the lifeboat.

The beach at Friog is sandy except at high water and the landing was accomplished efficiently in spite of the surf. The injured woman was handed over to the waiting doctor and ambulance men at about 5 o'clock. She died about five hours later.

The IRB was launched from Fairbourne beach with difficulty as the crew were by now becoming exhausted. She met up with the life-boat which escorted the IRB back to Barmouth. The life-boat and the IRB were rehoused and ready for service at 5.45. No injuries had been suffered by the IRB crew but they were in a very exhausted condition due

During the rescue operation the life-boat had stood by offshore ready to gi\ c assistance if required. The sea conditions were such that she had great difficulty in keeping the IRB in sight.

The casualty had been with a party of students who were doing a field study. The party were walking along the railway line between Fairbourne and Llwyngwryl when the woman fell over the cliffs. The alarm was raised by a passing train driver who informed the police at Llwyngwryl at 3.30. The policeman there informed the plice at Dolgellau, the mountain rescue team at Fairbourne, and the ambulance service, before making for the scene.

He and a colleague from Towyn walked along the foot of the cliff from Friog before the rising tide covered that part of the beach. Two of the casualty party climbed down the cliff and the leader of the mountain rescue team roped down the cliff. They were hauled up the cliff with the assistance of the mountain rescue party after the casualty had been removed.

The following awards have been made by the R. N.L.I.: the silver medal of the Institution for gallantry to each member of the crew of the Barmouth IRB: John H. Stockford, Colin Pugh and Dr. Haworth. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum to each member of the shore party: P.c. Kenneth J. E. Sherwood, P.c. Emyr W. Griffiths, Mr. Julian Kirkham, Dr. John G. Morris and Mr. Andrew Wallace Rixon; a letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.S.O., addressed to each member of the crew of the Barmouth life-boat: Coxswain Evan D. Jones, Acting Second Coxswain David L. Griffith, Second Assistant Mechanic Evan E. K. Griffith, crew members G. O. Jones, F. Cocksey, L. Vaughan and H. Allday..