MEN DIVED FOR BOY AT about 7.30 p.m. on 14th March, 1971, Mr.

John Hodder, a member of the Lyme Regis, Dorset, ILB crew, was working on the Cobb when he heard cries for help. As the ILB was off service for the winter months, he ran round the harbour and told the owner/skipper of the 50-foot m.f.v. Barbarella, who knew that his son was at sea with another boy hauling pots in their fishing dinghy. He immediately prepared the Barbarella for sea. At 7.40 p.m. the motor fishing vessel left harbour, with Mr. Hodder assisting the skipper, together with three other men.

The wind was north westerly force 3 to 4 with a short choppy sea outside the harbour. Continual heavy snow showers made visibility generally poor and the sea temperature was very low. The Barbarella cleared the harbour about 10 minutes after the first cries were heard, heading on a south easterly course.

About 500 yards offshore a yellow object was sighted in the beam of the searchlight whichproved to be the anorak worn by the skipper's son. The engine was stopped immediately and the boy, who obviously recognised the trawler, called out, 'Hurry, Dad! Hurry!' The trawler was still carrying a considerable amount of way and in the poor visibility the boy was disappearing into the gloom when, without hesitation, John Hodder dived over the side without a life-jacket or any form of buoyancy aid and started swimming towards the boy. He was followed within a few seconds by the boy's father but by this time the boy was out of sight.

One of the fishing boat's crew then assumed command and endeavoured to keep the light trained in the direction of the men in the water while giving instructions to another crew member, who took the helm and engine controls.

The situation was made more difficult for them as they had no knowledge, of course, whether the men in the water were separated or whether both men had reached the boy. In fact, the fishing vessel's skipper was heard calling for help and was subsequently sighted alone. The vessel then stopped to recover him and, as a result, it was estimated that about 12 minutes passed before contact was regained with Mr.

Hodder and the boy and about 15 minutes before they were brought on board.

The Barbarella has a free-board of about 6 feet and it was with the greatest difficulty that they were both recovered as, by this time, the boy was unconscious and Mr. Hodder, although a powerfully built man and an exceptionally strong swimmer, was in a state of complete exhaustion. One of the crew immediately started mouth to mouth resuscitation with the boy and in view of his condition and that of Mr. Hodder, it was decided to return to harbour so that both could receive medical attention.

The fishing vessel arrived back in the harbour at about 8.15 p.m.

The Barbarella, together with another local m.f.v., Sea Soldier, owned by another member of the Lyme Regis ILB crew, returned to sea to continue the search for the second boy. The Exmouth life-boat City of Birmingham, with Coxswain Brian Rowsell at the helm, launched at 10.12 p.m. to assist in the search, which ceased temporarily at 4.20 a.m. and was restarted at 6.55 a.m. A naval helicopter from Portland also assisted from 8.30 a.m. but at 10.35 a.m. the search was abandoned and all craft returned to their respective stations.

The Committee of Management has awarded the bronze medal of the Institution for gallantry to Mr. John Hodder. Framed letters of appreciation signed by the former Chairman of the Institution, Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.s.o.,were sent to the two crew members who took command of the Barbarella when her skipper went into the sea, and the crew of the SeaSoldier and second crew of the Barbarella \vFra searched for the second boy..