Search through surf BLYTH LIFEBOAT, the 46' 9" Watson Winston Churchill (Civil Service No. 8) had launched on exercise on Monday, August 8, and was heading for the harbour mouth when, at 1007, a call was received from HM Coastguard for ILB assistance off the River Wansbeck: a boat had overturned.

The lifeboat was just passing the harbour master's office, so she came alongside the jetty and Crew Members Leslie Fay and David Cussins were put ashore to launch the ILB. This was done off the beach to the south of the boathouse, into Blyth Bay, with the help of local fishermen at 1012.

The wind was north east strong, force 6, and there was a heavy swell. The tide was one hour before high water. Visibility was good.

The ILB, with Leslie Fay at her helm, made full speed to the Wansbeck, passing the lifeboat on the way as she, too, headed north to the incident. On reaching Sandy Bay it was found that a helicopter, called out previously, was already searching. Contacting Coastguard Newbiggin mobile, the ILB received instructions to search the inshore area from the mouth of the River Wansbeck south to the sewer outfall, some 800 yards away; one casualty was still missing, three apparently having been taken from the water by the helicopter and by helpers on the shore.

An elongated box search pattern was worked off the beach some 150 to 200 yards out on the edge of considerable surf for about 30 minutes, during which time the first helicopter was relieved by a second. No sign of the casualty was seen.

At about 1100 the ILB received a request from the Coastguard mobile to try to search further inshore. An attempt was made but with little success as a slow search through the heavy surf over the sand bars was impracticable; it would have resulted in serious damage to the ILB—in fact she did nearly overturn on one occasion.

Coastguard advice was altered so that the inflatable boat resumed search on the edge of the breaking surf while the helicopter searched within the surf and the lifeboat searched some 500 yards off shore.

At about 1130 the helicopter discontinued the search and twenty minutes later, after discussion with the Coastguard, the lifeboats were also instructed to discontinue the search and return to Blyth.When they were some half mile off Blyth entrance a further call from Newbiggin mobile reported definite sighting of the casualty in the water 150 yards off shore and some 600 yards south of the River Wansbeck mouth.

Both lifeboats put about (it was 1210) and made full speed for Sandy Bay.

The ILB arrived off the given position at about 1215 and was directed by the mobile to search in heavy surf which was worsening as the tide receded over the sand bars off the river mouth.

For some 70 minutes, with Winston Churchill standing off some 500 yards to the east, many runs were made into the surf in an attempt to find the casualty.

The ILB had to be drained on numerous occasion as she took heavy breakers over the bow. Some 15 minutes after resuming the search both crew were thrown half out of the boat as she took a particularly large green and white full on the starboard side. During much of the search David Cussins, disregarding his own safety, stood upright in the bow of the ILB to get a better field of vision.

Coastguard and police on the beach contrived to indicate further sightings, but, although attempts to close them were made each time, only once did David Cussins glimpse something in the water; the very confused sea, however, covered it up before the boat could get in close.

Two policemen came to the water's edge beckoning the ILB to come in even closer, which she did, bottoming the engine on several sorties towards the beach. At about 1315 Helmsman Fay took the ILB to within some 25 yards of the waterline where she bottomed on her keel before being overcome by a large breaker, which, to her credit, shetook, and she was able to drive out to sea again.

It now became obvious that the people on the beach, by wading into the shallow water, were in a much better position to effect a recovery than was the ILB; moreover the boat was running low on fuel. After discussion with the Coastguard, therefore, the ILB was instructed to return to Blyth. The return passage was made at half throttle, the ILB was landed on the slip at 1340, was rehoused, refuelled and ready for service at 1400.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Captain Nigel Dixon, RN, Director of the Institution, have been sent to Helmsman Leslie Fay and Crew Member David Cussins..