Surf ski rider HM COASTGUARD informed the deputy launching authority of St Agnes ILB station at 1626 on Sunday, July 17, 1977, that a surf ski rider was in difficulties off Porthtowan, about 3'/4 miles south west from St Agnes. The DLA fired the maroons and, at 1630, the 16ft inflatable ILB Blue Peter IVwas launched with helmsman David Bliss in command; Barry Garland and Roger Radcliffe were his crew.

The wind was westerly fresh to strong, force 5 to 6, with mist and rain, and a heavy surf running. The tide was in the fourth hour of flood.

Because of the urgency of the situation the ILB was driven at maximum speed and, in spite of the prevailing sea conditions, averaged 13 knots over the ground against a strong stream. Radio contact was made en route with St Agnes Coastguard mobile who advised that the surfer had been located in Flat Rocks Cove, a quarter of a mile north of Porthtowan beach.

The stranded casualty was a surf life saver. There being no members of the public on Porthtowan beach that day due to the weather, he had gone into the sea in a wet suit on a wave-rider ski for practice exercise. After about 20 minutes in the water he had then been taken unawares by a sudden increase in surf height from 2 to 3 feet to 7 to 8 feet accompanied by a proportionate increase in the undertow and a fierce northwards current. This swept him helplessly up the coast until a particularly large wave washed him into Flat Rocks Cove. He bounced off rocks on the way in and landed on shingle at the head of the cove.

The cove was surrounded by sheer 150ft cliffs with an overhang at the top.

The skier knew that the tide was only a little past half flood and the waves were already reaching the base of the cliffs where he stood. He therefore attempted to climb to safety, but a piece of rock came away in his hand and he fell 30 feet, breaking his wrist and landing in about a foot of water. He next tried to paddle the ski out and then tried swimming. Both proved impossible, however, and he then heard his colleagues shouting from the cliff top that the ILB was on her way.

The surf started at about the 10 fathom line over half a mile off shore.

The ILB's shortest course was inside this line and soon after passing Chapel Porth observers on the cliff top saw an exceptionally large wave of about 9 to 10 feet begin to break on to the ILB.

The helmsman immediately turned hard-a-starboard and the ILB dug into the bottom of the white water and emerged safely on the other side. One more similar wave had to be negotiated in the same way before the ILB could continue. On each occasion the two crew members, Barry Garland and Roger Radcliffe, moved as far forward as possible before entering the breaking waves, and then immediately moved aft again to help the boat to regain her planing attitude.

The ILB was directed to the cove by the casualty's colleagues on the cliff top and the helmsman stood off the entrance assessing the chances of a successful entry and exit by the ILB, as opposed to rescue by other means. Heknew that there were many rocks just below the surface inside the cove as well as those that were showing, and that the passage between them was as narrow as 9 or 10 feet. He also knew that the heavy surf would be much worse as it funnelled into the cove and there would be no turning back once approaching the entrance. He would also have to keep going fast if he was to keep enough control of his boat in the narrow channel, so use of anchor was going to be out of the question. Having capsized in surf in the past due to the engine having stalled at the wrong moment, he knew that everything depended upon the continued performance of the engine. If it failed for any reason inside the cove it was doubtful whether anyone would survive.

On the other hand, the casualty's position obviously did not allow enough time for the assembly of the cliff rescue team and their apparatus, while the overhang of the 150ft cliffs made the chances of rescue by helicopter highly unlikely. Helmsman Bliss decided that the ILB represented the casualty's best hope and he headed for the cove.

So skilful was his control of the boat and so extensive was his experience of operating in surf that he chose the right moment between two waves and the right speeds and avoided all the rocks in his path throughout the entire 50 yard length of the cove. He beached the ILB close to the injured man, who was standing at the base of the cliff against which the waves were already washing up to three feet deep.

The ILB crew immediately turned the boat head-to-sea again, put a survivor's lifejacket on the casualty, embarked him and re-launched into the waves.

David Bliss told Barry Garland and Roger Radcliffe to lie on the forward canopy, which they unhesitatingly did, and told the survivor to hold tight in the bottom of the boat. Then, using half to three-quarters throttle, he successfully picked his way once more between the rocks and through surf averaging 10 feet in height. It was a heavy, churning surf, with some tops reaching 14 feet as it was magnified by the narrowness of the cove. The maximum distance between crests in the cove was only 10 yards, for much of the time the intervals were only a few feet, and there were times when it was continuous.

The boat filled with water, inevitably, and the helmsman says that, but for the self-bailers the engine would have been swamped.

Observers on the cliff saw the ILB completely engulfed by many 10 feet dumping waves, with the two crewmen prostrate on the forward canopy to prevent the boat from capsizing end-over-end. They also saw the boat become airborne on the far side of the waves, in spite of the very reduced throttle.As soon as he was clear of the worst of the surf, Helmsman Bliss turned the ILB southwards and eventually rode the back of a wave on to Porthtowan Beach, where the casualty was safely disembarked and taken to hospital.

The ILB was re-launched at 1820 and as the weather had deteriorated still further, returned to St Agnes at much reduced throttle, arriving at 1845.

For this service the silver medal for gallantry has been awarded to Helmsman P. David Bliss. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Crew Members Barry Garland and Roger Radcliffe..