THE COASTGUARD informed New Quay honorary secretary at 1740 on July 30, 1974, that a small motor boat had been seen drifting towards the rocks about half a mile north of Trwyn-Croi, some four miles south of the station. Three minutes later the ILB launched with Assistant Motor Mechanic Mervyn Thomas in command, crewed by Richard Davies and Richard Phillips.

The wind was onshore, west south west force 6, and the sea rough. A heavy swell was running from the north west. It was just before high water at New Quay and a weak flood stream was setting to the northward.The ILB was kept close inshore, but because of the rough seas and heavy swell could only motor at a moderate speed. On passing Cwmtydu the motor boat with one person on board was sighted ahead anchored in a dangerous position about 150 yards from rocks at the base of very steep cliffs. At 1800 Helmsman Thomas closed the boat to learn from her owner that the outboard engine had failed and the boat had been blown inshore until the anchor had eventually brought-up and held. Two of the crew had abandoned the boat and swum ashore.

One man could be seen on a rock at the base of the cliff, apparently exhausted with surf breaking around him and in danger of being swept into the sea. A second man was seen lying down at the top of the cliff, in no immediate danger.

Helmsman Thomas decided to take the ILB in to the rocks and try to take off the man at the base of the cliff. The sea was rough and confused, with heavy swell running almost at 70° to the direction of the sea, and further aggravated by the reflected waves off the cliff.

The ILB was anchored and backed under power towards the cliffs. On nearing the rocks the engine was stopped, lifted, and the crew continued to back the ILB in under oars. On the first attempt at landing, the boat was lifted by a wave and swept broadside on to a rock, but the crew managed to pull clear by hauling on the anchor cable.

During the second attempt the ILB was completely overwhelmed by a heavy breaking sea and landed full of water on a rocky ledge close to the man in distress.

Crew Member Richard Phillips got ashore and made his way to the man.

The ILB being perched at an angle on the ledge, some of the water spilled back into the sea and the crew were able to turn her head to sea.

Richard Phillips helped the man into the ILB and in doing so damaged the radio aerial; at the same time the boat swept off the ledge, leaving Richard Phillips on a near-by rock. The next wave washed him off the rock into the sea and he was able to grab a line thrown to him by Helmsman Thomas and was hauled into the boat. The ILB was pulled clear of the rocks, the engine started and the anchor recovered.

When the ILB went back alongside the small motor boat at anchor, theowner was asked if he wished to be taken off, but he refused to leave his boat. It was now 1830.

The survivor being in poor shape, suffering from abrasions and exposure, it was decided to land him at Cwmtydu, just over a mile to the north, and Helmsman Thomas told the owner of the boat that he would then return immediately. Because of the damage to the aerial it was not possible to send a radio report to New Quay Coastguard, so, realising that the motor boat was dangerousely close to the rocky lee shore, and her owner was determined to remain with her, Helmsman Thomas ordered red flares to be fired to call out the New Quay lifeboat.

The survivor was landed at Cwmtydu into the care of D. Davies, a Coastguard reporting member. Richard Davies telephoned a situation report through to New Quay Coastguard and requested an ambulance.

The ILB was re-launched, returned to the motor boat and stood by until New Quay lifeboat arrived at 1905. A tow was passed and the boat was taken to Llangranog, two miles to the south, where she was safely beached and pulled ashore by tractor. The lifeboat and ILB returned to station and by 2115 were rehoused and made ready for service.

The man on the cliff was found by a member of the public and placed into the care of the Coastguard. Having swum ashore he managed to scale the cliff and in doing so received severe lacerations to his hands and feet.

For this service the bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to Helmsman Mervyn Thomas. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Members Richard Phillips and Richard Davies..