DIFFICULT RESCUE FROM ROCK THE Pwllheli life-boat and the Abersoch ILB, stationed on the Caernarvonshire coast, answered a call on 25th June, 1972, when two men in a motor boat were reported overdue.

The search started when, at 11.20 p.m. on 24th June, the coastguard at Porthdinllaen told the honorary secretary at Pwllheli that two men in a dinghy with an outboard engine had left Hell's Mouth for Abersoch and had not arrived. Concern was felt for their safety, and the Pwllheli life-boat, Katherine and Virgoe Buckland, was launched at 11.40 in a strong south westerly wind with a rough sea.

The life-boat made for the area and started searching off Tudwal's Island and along the coast from Abersoch to Hell's Mouth. Nothing was sighted and the search was called off at 3 a.m. on 25th June until first light, the lifeboat being moored at Abersoch for the night.

She started searching again at 4.15 in worsening weather conditions. Visibility was reduced with driving rain and there was a heavy swell running.

The life-boat searched the same area of coastline and at 5.15 two men were sighted on a rock under the cliffs on the west side of Cilan Head. The life-boat positioned herself up wind of the casualties, the anchor was dropped, and the boat veered down to about 100 feet from the rock, using the full scope of the anchor cable plus extra length gained by bending on a 2-inch nylon securing line. During this operation the breeches buoy was rigged and made ready for use.

At 5.25 the Abersoch ILB was launched to assist the Pwllheli life-boat. An attempt was made to fire the line-throwing gun but the trigger mechanism was found to be jammed.

While attempting to effect a repair to the gun the Abersoch ILB came alongside the life-boat and received a situation report.

After a brief discussion it was decided to veer the ILB in towards the casualty, using a veering line from the life-boat and the ILB going astern on her engines. Two life-jackets and a breeches buoy were passed into the ILB, and Pwllheli life-boat crew member Mr. Roy Morris joined the crew of the Abersoch ILB to assist with the rescue. The ILB veered down to within 10 to 15 feet of the casualties while the life-boat discharged storm oil in an effort to subdue the waves.

The heavy breaking swell and rough sea together with the backlash from the sheer cliff face made the situation extremely dangerous for the crew of the ILB. The Abersoch boat's anchor line was disconnected and, used as a heaving line, was thrown to the marooned men who succeeded in grabbing it on the second attempt. To this line the casualties bent on another line which they had salvaged from the wreck of their dinghy. The life-jackets and breeches buoy were passed to the survivors and instructions on their use shouted across to them.

The other end of the ILB anchor cable was wisely secured to the life-boat's veering line as an added precaution by Mr. Morris in case the ILB became separated.

The first survivor was instructed to climb into the breeches buoy and at the right moment jumped on to the crest of a rising wave and was pulled clear. The ILB engine was stopped and as the casualty was being pulled towards the inflatable the life-boat crew pulled it clear of the area. Once the first survivor was dragged into the ILB the boat was repositioned and the operation repeated for the second man.

At 6.38 both survivors and Pwllheli crew members were transferred to the Pwllheli life-boat and given rum, hot soup and dry clothing. Both boats returned independently to their respective stations. The survivors were landed at Pwllheli.

The survivors said that their outboard motor had broken down when approaching Gilan Head and the dinghy was set down on to the cliffs. Using a paddle they had managed to reach the rock and scramble on to it. Their boat was lifted on to the rock and swept into the gulley between the rock and cliff face. According to the survivors, it was sucked under and smashedto pieces. They were nearly exhausted when they were rescued and did not think they could have survived much longer on the rock.

The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Acting Coxswain W. McGill and Crew Member Morris (Pwllheli), and to Helmsman Barrie McGill and Crew Member Michael Bosley (Abersoch). The following members of the Pwllheli life-boat were presented with certificates to commemorate their participation in the service: Acting 2nd Coxswain/ Mechanic Owen Roberts, Assistant Mechanic Tom Jones, Acting Second Assistant Mechanic M. Faulkner and Crew Members Brian Green and R. Roberts..