BAD WEATHER CLIFF RESCUE WHEN, on 8th February, 1972, Mr J. J. Adams, honorary secretary, Hastings, Sussex, was told by the police at about 2.15 p.m. that a man had fallen over the cliff to the east of the harbour at a point known as Ecclesbourne Glen, he was not entirely happy about launching the ILB except as a last resort. This was because there was a short steep sea running on to the beach with the wind directly onshore, estimated at force 5, and increasing. He told the police accordingly, but they subsequently repeated their request for assistance, intimating that no other practical means of reaching the casualty were available.

Taking all possible safety precautions, the ILB was launched at 2.37 p.m. with Helmsman R. Shoesmith in command and Mr. C. Green and Mr. K. Ronchetti as crew, Mr. Shoesmithand Mr. Green both being qualified first aiders.

The ILB made the best possible speed, having regard to the existing sea conditions, and was eventually beached close by the casualty at about 3.5 p.m. The beach at this point is very treacherous and rocky and only expert local knowledge and exceptionally good seamanship enabled the crew to land the ILB without damage. The further efforts of the police officers in attendance enabled the crew to haul the boat clear of the breaking seas.

The crew had serious misgivings about relaunching and attempting the passage back to the station in the steadily deteriorating sea conditions despite the fact that the injured man had been placed in a stretcher. The helmsman noticed that the man was bleeding from the cars and, suspecting a possible fractured skull, as well as his other injuries, decided that the inevitable pounding that he would receive in the ILB could easily jeopardise his chances of survival.

After consultation with the Fairlight Cliff Rescue Team, who had by this time arrived on the scene, he very sensibly abandoned the idea of returning to Hastings with the casualty by sea and the man was successfully hauled up the cliff by the cliff rescue team.

By the time this task had been completed, the weather had become even worse with the wind estimated at force 7 with a very dangerous sea running on to the beach. The boat was slowly manhandled as far up the beach as possible against the face of the cliff. It was decided that, with the combined help of the station personnel and the cliff rescue team, an attempt to recover the ILB up the cliff should be made.

At about 4.30 p.m. when adequate help and equipment were on hand, the recovery operation began and the ILB crew, by now close to exhaustion, were driven back to Hastings by the honorary secretary.

Coxswain/Mechanic J. Martin then took charge of the recovery assisted by Mr. B. Foster, life-boatman, head launcher Mr. R. White, two non-station volunteers and the Fairlight cliff rescue team led by Coastguard F. Davis.

Using their equipment, they manhandled the boat and engine to a height of almost 100 feet over almost sheer cliff face. In the driving wind and rain the cliff was extremely slippery and although this allowed the boat to be moved over the ground without any serious chafing to the fabric, it made conditions even more difficult for the men involved.

Eventually sufficient progress was made to enable a line to be taken to the Coastguard Land-Rover, which was parked on level ground, and with a series of short tows the ILB was brought up to the level of the cliff top.

At this point the cliff rescue team was calledto another casualty and was unable to complete the recovery back to the life-boat station.

However, a Mr Usher volunteered his services and provided a farm tractor and trailer. The boat and engine were then transported to the Hastings road, where the same man then hitched the trailer behind his private car and delivered the ILB and all station personnel back to the life-boat house at about 6.30 p.m.

The following special awards for this rescue operation have been made: framed letters of thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Commander F. R. H. Swann, O.B.E. R.N.V.R., to Mr. Shoesmith, Mr. Green and Mr.

Ronchetti. Letters of thanks, signed by the Secretary of the Institution, Captain Nigel Dixon, R.N., have been sent to Mr. Martin, Mr. Foster, Mr. White, Mr. Usher, Mr. R.

Taylor, Mr. J. Mitchell and Coastguard Davis..