Skin divers trapped AN INFLATABLE DINGHY with four people on board, sighted drifting close inshore north of Fleshwick Bay, was reported to Port Erin deputy launching authority by Ramsey Coastguard, Isle of Man, at 1614 on Tuesday March 28.

It was thought that the engine had failed and the boat was in danger of being blown ashore on to rocks. The crew was assembled and Port Erin's 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat Osman Gabriel slipped at 1631.

A fresh south-south-westerly breeze, force 5, was blowing and the sea was rough. The sky was partly clouded and visibility was good. It was two hours after high water and the tidal stream was setting northwards.

Coxswain Peter Woodworth kept the lifeboat about a quarter of a mile offshore as he headed north east towards Fleshwick Bay. At about 1705, when one mile north of the bay, someone was sighted waving from rocks at the base of a 700ft cliff. The lifeboat altered course to starboard to close the land.

When about 100 yards off, two people were sighted standing on boulders clear of the water. A small boat could be seen high and dry nearby.

The lifeboat was manoeuvred to within 50 yards of the rocks and, using the loud hailer, the coxswain was able to communicate with those ashore. He learned that they were a party of four skin divers and that one man had set off up the cliff to get help.

The wind was still blowing from the south-south-west but close inshore the sea was moderate because of the sheltering effect of Bradda Head. A moderate swell was running into and breaking over the lower rocks and boulders.

Although the tide was ebbing and the divers were not in danger of being drowned, Coxswain Woodworth considered they would be unable to scale the steep cliff and decided to attempt a rescue using a breeches buoy. This information was passed ashore over the loud hailer and acknowledged. A situation report was passed to Peel Coastguard mobile, on high ground to the north near The Niarbyl.

At 1715 the lifeboat was anchored 25 to 30 yards off the rocks with bows south south west, stemming tide and sea and rolling heavily. Gun line andbreeches buoy were made ready but Coxswain Woodworth decided not to use a tail block since it would be difficult to secure it ashore. The gun line was fired and the breeches buoy hauled ashore and set up, the endless whip being held and passed hand-over-hand by those ashore. The first person, a young woman, was hauled to the lifeboat and was safely aboard at 1733.

The people ashore indicated that they wished to try to transfer the boat and diving gear to the lifeboat using the breeches buoy rig. By this time the tide had fallen leaving the diving boat about 15 feet above the water. After much effort it became apparent that the boat was too big and heavy to be manhandled into the water with safety.

Meanwhile the weather had deteriorated and the wind had freshened to force 6. Seas were beginning to break and a heaving swell was building up. To maintain his position the coxswain was continuously manoeuvring Osman Gabriel's engines. At times the boat was veering dangerously close to submerged rocks.

The two divers were advised by loud hailer to abandon their attempts to salvage the equipment and make ready to be pulled off. They apparently failed to understand the gravity of the situation, however, and continued to transfer their equipment to a position above the high water mark while the wind was freshening to force 6 to 7, strong breeze to near gale. The sky had become overcast and the light was beginning to fail.

Coxswain Woodworth was becoming very concerned about the safety of the divers on the rocks, and the deteriorating weather was making it more and more difficult to keep the lifeboat clear of the rocks just below the water.

Eventually he managed to make the dtvers understand, and they prepared to be rescued.

It was about 1915, an hour to low water, and there were drying rocks between the divers' position and the lifeboat. Holding on to the breeches buoy, one of the men lowered himself some six to eight feet into the water and disappeared from view. Two minutes later he was sighted on the crest of a swell lying across the buoy, but disappeared again behind the rocks. After a while he managed to manoeuvre himself sideways and could be seen between two rocks. From there the lifeboat crew managed to pull him clear as he was lifted by a heavy swell. Once on board the lifeboat he was found to be exhausted.

The breeches buoy was passed back to the last man, who secured the veering line outhaul around his chest and, holding on to the buoy, slid off the rocks into the water and out of sight of the boat. He very quickly moved to the gap between the rocks and was pulled clear in the same way as the man before him. This last man was recovered at 1933, and once aboard all the survivors were given food and a tot of brandy.

During the latter part of the rescue the lifeboat was at times about six to eight feet off the submerged rocks and was only prevented from striking by the skilful handling of Coxswain Woodworth.

The anchor was recovered at 1949 and the lifeboat headed back to Port Erin keeping a quarter of a mile off the coast. During the return passage the boat was heading into very rough breaking seas, and once outside the shelter of Bradda Head the wind was found to be blowing a near gale, force 7, still from the south south west. The lifeboat arrived back at Port Erin at 2030 and was rehoused and made ready for service by 2105.

The survivors were re-united with the fourth diver, a very experienced climber, who had succeeded in climbing the cliff and had been found by the Coastguard at 1915. The four people had set out from Fleshwick Bay atabout 1520 to go diving but ran into rough seas when only half a mile north of the bay. An attempt had been made to anchor the boat but the anchor would not hold and the engine failed.

They managed to swim to the rocks dragging the dinghy behind them.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain Peter Woodworth.

Vellum service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Edward N. Sansbury, Acting Motor Mechanic Alfred P. Maddrell, Acting Assistant Mechanic Raymond A. T. Buchan and Crew Members John W. Watterson and David T. Woodworth..