Breeches buoy rescue TWO PEOPLE IN DANGER, stranded on a rock at the mouth of the River Dee, were reported to the deputy launching authority of Kirkcudbright lifeboat station by Ardrossan Coastguard at 1321 on Sunday, May 16. The weather was stormy with southerly gale force 8 winds and a very rough sea running in Kirkcudbright Bay. High water was at 1400.

Maroons were fired at 1338 and at 1343 Kirkcudbright lifeboat, the 37' Oakley Mary Pullman, launched on service. On clearing the bar Coxswain George Davidson headed across Kirkcudbright Bay towards Frenchman's Rock; on the way he asked the Coastguard to muster the local Coast Rescue Equipment company as casualties might be washed ashore.

Passage across the bay was very rough with the lifeboat frequently disappearing from the sight of people watching from the shore. At 1355 the lifeboat arrived off Frenchman's Rock, about one mile west of the lifeboat house, and found the two men in great danger of being washed off the rock. The sea in the area was very confused.

The lifeboat crew immediately volunteered to launch the small inflatable dinghy, but Coxswain Davidson considered that in the prevailing conditions it would be safer to effect the rescue by breeches buoy. At about 1400, therefore, the lifeboat anchored 30 metres to the south of Frenchman's Rock. Coxswain Davidson decided that it would not be possible to fix the line to the rock and that the best method would be to work lines from the shore to the lifeboat, so had the rocket line fired over the heads of the two men to the CREcompany on the far shore. The wind was still gale force 8 and Coxswain Davidson had continuously to use the lifeboat's engines and adjust the cable to keep the veering line within reach of the survivors.

One of the men was suffering from exposure and his colleague had to help him into the breeches buoy; he was brought aboard the lifeboat at 1415 and quickly wrapped in blankets. At 1420 the second man was rescued and also wrapped in blankets.

Coxswain Davidson then radioed for a doctor to be waiting and headed back to the harbour. At about 1450 the two men were landed into the care of the doctor. The lifeboat remained in the harbour until conditions on the slip improved and was rehoused and ready for service at 1730.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain/Mechanic George C. Davidson, DSM BEM. Vellum service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain James P. Little, Assistant Motor Mechanic William McKie and Crew Members Edward Eccles, Stephen Eccles, Colin Mathieson, Charles Devlin and Alexander McHenry. A letter of thanks signed by Captain Nigel Dixon, RN, Director of the Institution, was sent to HM Coastuard..