Sunken speed boat WHILE FISHING with rods and lines from a 14' Dejon motor cruiser, Sandpiper, anchored 150 yards off Tan-y-Bwlch beach, about half a mile south of Aberystwyth Harbour, on Sunday, July 6, 1975, Richard Wheeler and John Wall saw a speed boat towing a small pram dinghy approaching fast from the south; she appeared to be in difficulty.

The time was 1710. The wind was off shore, north-east force 2, and the sea very slight with a slight ground swell.

It was a fine day with cloudless sky and good visibility. The tide was about 1| hours before high water, and the tidal stream was setting northward at about half a knot.

As the speed boat closed with Sandpiper the helmsman shouted for help, and the boat was seen to be settling by the stern. When about 30 yards off, the speed boat sank by the stern, leaving two adults, three children and a large dog in the water.

A man without a lifejacket was seen to be helping a boy and girl, both wearing lifejackets, towards Sandpiper.

Another young girl wearing a lifejacket was swimming towards the anchored boat without too much difficulty. The fifth member of the crew, a woman, could be seen struggling in the water about 10 feet from the partly submerged boat. She was not wearing a buoyancy aid and appeared to be unable to swim.

Richard Wheeler removed hisspectacles and dived into the water to help the woman. At the same time John Wall threw a line to the man approaching with the children.

On reaching the woman Richard Wheeler, a trained life-saver, gave her support and reassurance that she was now out of danger and, using the 'close chin tow' method and lifesaving backstroke, towed her towards Sandpiper.

The tow was hampered by the occasional breaking swell and by the dog which kept trying to climb on to the rescuer and his casualty; Richard Wheeler in fact sustained scratches to his face, arms and body.

When about 5 feet from the boat Richard Wheeler was able to grab a line and pull the woman alongside. She was helped from the water by John Wall and the other man, her husband. Richard Wheeler climbed into the boat, grabbedthe dog swimming alongside, dragged it in over the gunwale and then checked to see if any of the survivors needed resuscitation. The time was now 1720.

Another speed boat, crewed by Paul Davies and Wyn Evans, arrived alongside Sandpiper and was asked to go to Aberystwyth to call out the ILB.

Sandpiper was got under way, took the small pram dinghy in tow and marked off the sunken speed boat with an airtight plastic container. She then set out for Aberystwyth, meeting the ILB as she rounded the southern breakwater at 1730. The ILB went on to recover the speed boat, while Sandpiper landed the survivors at Aberystwyth at 1735.

The ILB found the sunken boat at 1740 and managed to tow it back into harbour some 15 minutes later. The ILB was rehoused and ready for service at 1800.

For this service, framed letters of appreciation signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, the Chairman of the Institution, were awarded to Richard Wheeler and John Wall..