Washed off pier A MEMBER of Amble ILB crew, Keith Stuart, was on his way home at about 1715 on Friday August 19, 1977, when he heard a helicopter working in the area off the south pier. Bystanders were shouting that a boy was in the water. He ran to the harbour and learned that the boy had been washed off the pier and was missing. The honorary secretary was informed and, together with Jeffrey Matthews, Keith Stuart launched the ILB.

The wind was north, fresh force 5, and, although at the launching site inside the harbour the sea was smooth, the harbour bar was at times breaking right across. Visibility was good and it was four hours after low water.

The ILB set out at 1720 with Keith Stuart at the helm. By carefully watching the runs of the sea on the bar he safely cleared the harbour and rounded the south pier to the area into which the boy was reported to have gone. Thehelicopter from RAF Boulmer was already searching and the ILB made thorough search close in along the pier.

The area to the south of Amble Harbour is very shoal and rocky and dangerous and confused sea had built up made worse by backwash off the pier. Careful and able handling of the ILB was essential.

At 1750 Amble honorary secretary decided to launch the offshore lifeboat to help and stand by. With Coxswain John Connell in command, the 37ft 6in Rother Harold Salvesen made for the area but, because of her draught, had to remain offshore clear of the shallow waters of the main search area. A quarter of an hour later the ILB reported that she was returning to harbour and requested that an additional crew member be available; Helmsman Stuart considered that extra weight would help to keep the bow down when negotiating the surf in the very rough seas. Having picked up Crew Member Norman Rowell, the ILB returned at 1817 and continued searching inside the surf line to the south of the harbour, extending the search further south.

At about 1905 the connector on the fuel line in use parted, so, as a prudent precaution, Helmsman Stuart returned to harbour to repair the break, thus ensuring that both tanks were available.

It was also discovered at this time that Norman Rowell was in fact recovering from an injured knee, and so he was Jeft ashore to prevent further aggravation of the trouble.

The repair made to her fuel line with the help of an RAF launch alongside, the ILB returned once again to search close to the pier and further south. She was then informed by Amble lifeboat that a body had been sighted to the south, close under the sea wall below Cliff House. The ILB went straight to the area, where the very confused seas were aggravated by backwash.

Helmsman Stuart took the ILB in through the surf but, caught by a large sea, the boat was picked up and thrown bodily against the sea wall. Keeping a very cool head and with expert handling, Keith Stuart succeeded in keeping the ILB under control in the adverse conditions and in turning her back head to sea. The boat was almost alongside the body and the crew managed to drag it inboard before heading back out clear of the break. The body was transferred to Amble offshore lifeboat and at about 2030 both boats returned to harbour where an ambulance was waiting.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on velium were accorded to Helmsman Matthew J.

Keith Stuart and Crew Member Ian Jeffrey Matthews. A vellum service certificate was presented to Crew Member Norman A. Rowell and framed letter of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, chairman of the Institution, was sent to Coxswain John Connell of Amble offshore lifeboat and his crew..