Wading neck high TWO SMALL BOATS trying to enter Cullercoats Bay were seen at 1645 on Saturday April 14, 1979, by ILB Crew Member Christopher Blackman, aged 19, and his 16-year-old friend Jeffrey Storey.

It was a fine day with a light easterly sea breeze but a heavy swell was breaking over the north breakwater producing an undertow which swings around the tiny bay hugging the cliff sides. It was spring tides and half an hour after high water so that little of the beach was left uncovered.

The first boat, about 20 feet in length, entered the bay and headed for the beach, but the powerful swell carried her away towards the cliff. Seeing what was happening, Christopher Blackman and Jeffrey Storey immediately went to her crew's help and managed to beach the boat close to the lifeboat house.

The second boat, seeing the first boat ashore and not knowing how she had reached safety, tried the same tactic.

She was lifted on the crest of a wave, which carried her and her two crew swiftly towards the steep cliff and caves. Trying to avoid a head-on collision with the cliff, the helmsman turnedthe boat and capsized. Boat and crew were driven into a small cave in the cliffside where they were buffeted by the waves.

Regardless of their own safety, Christopher and Jeffrey plunged straight into the water and waded neck high through the breaking waves to the nearside of the cave, where a spur of rock runs out into the water. After several attempts they managed to climb on to the spur, pass a rope to one young survivor, haul him clear and push him up the cliff and out of danger. They tried to haul the other survivor clear in the same way, but were washed off the spur time and again. While they were still trying, the Coastguard Land Rover arrived and its crew managed to lower a longer and stronger rope to the man in difficulties and pull him clear.

When the survivor reached safety Christopher Blackman and Jeffrey Storey returned to the beach. Although they made little of the part they played, they had been in constant danger for about half an hour.

For this service framed letters of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, were sent to Crew Member Christopher Blackman and to Jeffrey Storey..