Injured climber A MAN, APPARENTLY SERIOUSLY INJURED and lying at the foot of the cliff at Jackets Point, three miles north east of Port Isaac ILB station, was reported to the honorary secretary by HM Coastguard at 1332 on Wednesday, May 4.

Maroons were fired and the ILB launched at 1342.

On arrival off Jackets Point the crew could, at first, see no sign of the man.

On re-approaching the point from the north east, however, a narrow entrance between the rocks became apparent in which the casualty could now be seen, with people standing on the cliff tops above him.

The weather was fine, the wind light from the east north east and the tide was just starting to flood. There was little sea but a considerable swell was creating heavy breaking surf in the entrance to the cove.

Helmsman Clive Martin made a slow approach consistent with avoiding the submerged rocks in the mouth of the cove, and, at the same time, keeping enough way on the ILB to avoid being overwhelmed by the breaking surf. After safely negotiating the entrance a sharp turn was made to starboard, the ILB was beached on the rocks close by the casualty, and the crew climbed over to where he lay. He had slipped while climbing, falling some 50 feet, and it was aooarent that at least one of his ankles was broken and his back was injured.

A Neil Robertson stretcher was lowered by the Coastguard and, while Helmsman Martin and his crew, Barry Slater and John Coshall, rendered first aid, two other Port Isaac crew members, Edward Flanagan and Andrew Bolton, climbed down the cliff. They helped to strap the casualty firmly in the stretcher and, with great care, carry him over the rocks to the ILB.

With the two extra crew members providing useful additional ballast, the ILB was successfully re-launched into the surf. Helmsman Martin followed, as closely as possible, the reciprocal ofthe track successfully used to enter the cove and, handling the ILB with great skill, not only succeeded in negotiating the very heavy surf safely, but also caused no undue discomfort to the casualty.

The ILB returned to Port Isaac at 1440, to be met by the honorary medical adviser and an ambulance. On arrival at hospital the casualty was found to have two broken ankles and a broken wrist as well as an injured back. He has expressed his grateful thanks to the RNLI.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Helmsman Clive Martin. Vellum service certificates have been presented to Crew Members Barry Slater, John Coshall, Edward Flanagan and Andrew Bolton..