Trapped in cave TWO BOYS TRAPPED in a cave on the north side of Brean Down were reported to the honorary secretary of Weston-super-Mare ILB station at 1625 on Sunday November 12, 1978, by Barry Coastguard. Maroons were fired at 1632 and the crew assembled. The honorary secretary decided to launch both the RFD D class ILB, D170, which would be the best boat to enter a cave should this be necessary, and also the 18ft 6in McLachlan ILB, A507R, to act as a safety boat for the smaller ILB.

Helmsman Julian Morris was in command of the McLachlan with Michael Hawkings and Richard Spindler as his crew; Helmsman Nicholas White and Crew Member Anthony Blizzard manned the D class ILB. Both boats launched at 1637.A near gale force 7 gusting to gale force 8 was blowing from the south.

The sky was overcast and five minutes after launch it started raining heavily.

The sea was rough with breaking surf.

High water springs was at 1715; sunset at 1610.

While on their way towards Brean Down, the Coastguard told the ILBs that the cave where the boys were trapped was on the south side of the down, not the north. Both boats altered course to pass close to Howe Point, the westerly tip of Brean Down. Westonsuper- Mare Bay was reasonably sheltered from the south so that both boats were able to drive at full speed most of the time. Once round Howe Point, however, the full force of the gale was felt and in this area both boats had to keep close in to the cliffs to avoid fishing nets.

On scene, the Coastguard mobile's blue light flashing on top of the cliff marked the position of the cave. Both boats laid off and D170 went alongside A507R to confer on the best method of taking the casualties off. They had been told by radio that two coastguards were with the boys in the cave. It was decided that a swimmer would be needed, so Richard Spindler transferred to D170. A507R laid off and illuminated the scene with her Aldis lamp.

By now, the wind, still from the south, was gale force 8. It was raining heavily and large seas were breaking against the cliff face.

D170 approached the cave and, when 20 yards off, Richard Spindler entered the water to check whether the boat could approach without being obstructed by rocks. The swim was difficult because of the backwash from the cliff face, but Richard Spindler signalled for D170 to make her approach and prepared to help as the ILB entered the mouth of the cave. Helmsman White drove D170 into the starboard hand side of the cave entrance and Richard Spindler pushed the bow to port, so turning D170 into the sea. Crew Member Blizzard also entered the water to keep the bows pointing out to sea. The floor of the cave was covered with boulders and loose stones, and, with a depth of water between four and seven feet, the two men were constantly under water.

The ILB crew found that there were three boys trapped in the cave. They were taken on board, Anthony Blizzard jumped into the boat and Helmsman White took D170 out alongside A507R.

Once the boys were transferred to the McLachlan, D170 went back into the cave to pick up Crew Member Spindler and the two coastguards. The ILB had been constantly buffeted against the side of the cave and was full of water from the confused breaking seas.

After being landed on Brean Beach by Helmsman White, the coastguards helped the crew get the ILB off the beach again, through heavy surf. D170 then went alongside the McLachlan, took on board the three boys and landed them on the beach also. The ILB was hauled clear of the sea and baled out before relaunching, but was once more full of water by the time she had cleared the surf.

Both boats started the return passage to station at 1756 and were rehoused and ready for service at 1830.

For this service the thanks of theInstitution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Helmsman Nicholas J.

White and Crew Members Richard A.

Spindler and Anthony C. Blizzard. Vellum service certificates were presented to Helmsman Julian Morris and Crew Member Michael E. Hawkings..