BELGIAN TRAWLER AIDED A BELGIAN fishing trawler, which ran ashore near Salcombc, Devon, on 1st April, 1972, led to the local life-boat being launched soon after 1.30a.m.

The wind was westerly, force 5 to 6, with a moderate sea and low swell. It was foggy with visibility down to half a mile.

The Salcombe life-boat, The Baltic Exchange, found the casualty two miles south west by south of Salcombe.

The Amelie Suzanne, a 95-ton Belgian fishing trawler built in wood, with a crew of five on board, was hard and fast ashore, lifting heavily to the south west ground sea. She was in danger of breaking up. Captain K. Dammeel, the trawler's skipper, said that he would like his crew taken off because of the heavy list.

Coxswain Hubert W. Distin decided to effect the rescue by means of breeches buoy due to the shallow water and the ground sea backwash off the cliffs, which rose vertically to 400 feet on the landward side of the casualty. He carefully positioned his life-boat, dropped the anchor and brought up some 75 yards to seaward of the casualty, firing a rocket line to the trawler at 2.12a.m.

By 2.40 a.m. all five Belgians were safely aboard the life-boat. Then, just after 3 o'clock, the life-boat returned to Salcombe with the survivors.

The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Coxswain Distin.

The following crew afso received certificates to commemorate their part in the service: Second Coxswain Arthur O. Taylor, Motor Mechanic Edward Hannaford, Assistant Mechanic Brian Cater, Crew members Andrew Burner, Frank Smith and Eric Distin..