LIFE-BOAT HOLED BY CASUALTY A SMALL BOAT in a dangerous position off the West Hoyle Bank on 27th August, 1971, led to the Hoylake, Cheshire, life-boat Thomas Corbett being launched at 10.27 a.m.

The wind was west north west force 6, and there was a very heavy steep breaking sea to the north west of West Hoyle Bank.

The Thomas Corbett went at full speed round Hilbre Island, then through Welshman's Gut to the East Hoyle Buoy. After launching, the casualty could not be seen as she was the other side of West Hoyle Bank. By 11.25 Coxswain Harold Triggs knew that he should be able to see the casualty. He fired a parachute flare to show any survivors that help was coming.

Shortly after this the coxswain sighted a small object which later proved to be the top of the wheelhouse of the wrecked casualty.

The coxswain decided that it was essential to close the casualty as soon as possible, and turned north to pass over the West Hoyle, passing just west of the East Hoyle buoy. The sea on the bank was very steep and breaking, with the wind west north west force 6 to 7. It was necessary to cross the bank beam on to the sea as there was insufficient water to turn to a more suitable course. Even beam on with the life-boat rolling heavily she touched bottom on the bank a number of times.

By 11.35 a.m. the life-boat had reached the casualty where the two crew members were found holding on to the grab rails on top of the wheelhouse which was all that was showing of the wreck. The sea was washing over both the survivors and the wheelhouse, and the coxswain decided that there was no time to anchor andveer down to the wreck. He therefore decided to run straight in on the wreck to recover the survivors, who were not wearing life-jackets.

The coxswain approached from the south east with the wind and sea fine on his starboard bow.

When the wreck was reached the first survivor, when told, released his hold on the grab rail. His arms were caught by the crew and there was no difficulty in getting him on board. However, the second survivor was frozen to the grab rail and either would not or could not let go of the Diane.

The life-boat fell away to leeward and then circled to port for a second run in. This time the coxswain came right alongside the wheelhouse so that the crew could drag the second man from his hold. This very difficult manoeuvre was achieved at the first attempt and after the second survivor had been gripped under the arm-pits by two crew members there was little difficulty in dragging him free of the grab rail.

At this time the life-boat, which was pitching heavily, came down hard on the wreck and it was clear to the crew that she must have been holed on the starboard bow. The life-boat returned to Hilbre without difficulty although flooded.

The Committee of Management made the following awards: Coxswain Triggs the bronze medal of the Institution for gallantry. Medal service certificates will be presented to Second Coxswain Thomas Jones, Motor Mechanic Frederick Campion, Assistant Mechanic Jeffrey Kernighan, and Crew members David Dodd, Robert Beech and Norman Watson..