Swimmers far out A COUNCIL LIFE GUARD at Sennen Cove, Nick Bryant, although not on duty was down painting his hut on Friday May 16 when he saw two swimmers a long way out to sea. He immediately put out on a surf board and, on reaching the two swimmers, he found that they were indeed in difficulties, exhausted by the strength of the tide and the coldness of the water. He towed them to Cowloe Rocks, which were much nearer than the shore, and told them to clamber over the top to the shoreward side while he paddled his board round to meet them.

Second Coxswain John Fender had seen that there might be people in trouble and as he was running to the lifeboat house he could see the two swimmers struggling hard to climb over the rocks and knew that help would be needed.

Fortunately a 9ft inflatable dinghy, to be carried on board Sennen Cove's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Diana White, had been delivered some 18 hours earlier and was already inflated. Second Coxswain Pender launched her down the slip and brought the two swimmers, who were visitors from Germany, ashore. One, a boy in his teens, was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Nick Bryant and Second Coxswain John Pender..