Girls trapped A POLICE message on May 1 told the Newquay, Cornwall, ILB that four people were stranded on rocks on the north side of Zacrys Island.

The maroons were fired at 4.26 p.m.

Wind was north westerly, force 2, the sea was short and choppy and a heavy ground sea was running from the west.

Three minutes later the ILB launched with a crew of three.

After a short passage of two miles at full speed, the ILB sighted 11 girlsstranded on Horse Rocks, 200 yards north of Zacrys Island. Horse Rocks lie about 30 feet from the 100 feet sheer cliff face, and the girls were clinging to each other on the top of five feet of rock above the waterline.

The ground sea against the cliff face and around the back of the rocks created a confused and dangerous area of water, drenching the rocks continually with spray. The ILB attempted to get in close but the breaking surf prevented this, and an attempt to veer down to the rocks on the anchor cable failed when the anchor dragged on the hard sand bottom.

At 4.48, with the ILB outside the surf line, Mr Norman Bailey, a crew member, decided to swim to the rock in order to give encouragement and assurance to the girls. Wearing a lifejacket and carrying a spare, with a lifeline attached to him, Mr Bailey swam the 60 yards separating the ILB from the rocks.

It was 20 minutes before Mr Bailey reached the north side of the rocks. In this position, with a depth of water of six feet, he was constantly buffeted against the cliffs by the swirl of water, and his attempts at gaining a foothold on the rocks failed. He was, however, able to offer words of encouragement to the trapped girls and at one point aided one to a safer position.

At 5.20, shortly after high water, a helicopter arrived overhead and with praiseworthy skill winched the 11 girls and Mr Bailey to safety. The ILB returned to her station at 6 o'clock.

For this service Mr Bailey was accorded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum. Letters of thanks signed by the Director and Secretary of the Institution, Captain Nigel Dixon, RN, have been sent to the other two crew members, Mr M. Morris and Mr K.

Colcult..