Two injured seamen THE COXSWAIN SUPERINTENDENT of Humber lifeboat station, Brian Bevan, was informed by Humber Coastguard at 2103 on Friday, October 1, 1976, that the Belgian trawler Marbi was heading for the Humber with two injured crewmen on board and had asked that the lifeboat rendezvous with her to put a doctor aboard. Dr James Busfield, the station honorary medicaladviser, had also been informed and Coxswain Bevan told the Coastguard that he would place his crew on standby and launch on the arrival of the doctor.

It was raining very heavily, there was flooding on the road between the mainland and Spurn Point and visibility was poor, so when, after some 30 minutes, Dr Busfield had not arrived, Coxswain Bevan went to see if he had had a mishap on the road. He found Dr Busfield, carrying two bags and walking, about a mile and a half from the station; his car had skidded on the sand and become bogged down and he had already come a quarter of a mile on foot. Coxswain Bevan took him to the station.

Although soaked to the skin, Dr Busfield insisted on no further delay and Humber's 46' 9" Watson lifeboat City of Bradford HI launched at 2223. It was 4J hours after low water. The wind was south south east force 1 to 2 with heavy rain making visibility poor. The sea was slight.

The lifeboat had just cleared Spurn Point when the radar failed. Using his Decca navigator to check his own progress and plot the progress of Marbi, Coxswain Bevan set course to intercept her some 18 miles east by north of Spurn Point Lighthouse.

The trawler was sighted at 0045.

There had been no change in the weather but there was now a moderate easterly swell, so Coxswain Bevan asked Marbi to steam east at slow speed to make boarding easier. Humber lifeboat went alongside at 0053, Dr Busfield, accompanied by the lifeboat first aider Bill Sayers, boarded Marbi, and the tv/o men stayed aboard to treat the casualties under way. Both boats set course for Grimsby.

On arrival at Grimsby at 0350 the lifeboat crew learnt that the two injured men had been taken to hospital accompaniedaccompanied by both Dr Busfield and Bill Sayers. Half an hour later Humber Coastguard informed the lifeboat that a red flare had been sighted off Immingham and asked that she investigate.

Although a thorough search was made, no sign of any casualty was found and the lifeboat returned to Grimsby to refuel and re-embark Dr Busfield and Bill Sayers. She sailed for station at 0717, arrived at 0800, and was rehoused at 1230.

In appreciation of his service, a special certificate inscribed on vellum has been presented to Dr James D.

Busfield..