Over mud WHILE PAYING a routine visit to Spurn Coastguard lookout on Saturday December 6, 1980, Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan of Humber lifeboat station was told, at 1912, that Hull Radio had reported two red flares sighted in the Foul Holme Sands area near Immingham; the tug Lady Debbie was investigating. After consultation with the duty coastguard officer, the coxswain decided to await a further report from Lady Debbie before launching.

A strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the north west with frequent heavy snow showers and the temperature was below freezing point. It was two hours after high water.

At about 2000 Lady Debbie confirmed that a small boat was aground on Foul Holme Sands, but the tug could not get within three-quarters of a mile of the casualty because there was not enough depth of water. Coxswain Bevan decided to launch the lifeboat and at 2019 the 52ft Arun relief lifeboat Edith Emilie, on temporary duty at Spurn Point, slipped her moorings and headed west towards the casualty.

The lifeboat arrived at the scene at 2122 and a search was begun along the edge of the mud bank. The grounded boat, the converted ship's lifeboat Nicholas, was picked out by searchlight at 2130 when, through binoculars, the waving arms of her crew could be seen.

The wind was still from the north west, force 6. It was snowing and the tide had now been ebbing for 4'/2 hours.

The sea was choppy and the lifeboat had to stand off in about ten foot of water at a distance of 400 yards.

The Y class inflatable dinghy carried by the Arun was lowered and, armed with a high-powered torch and a portable VHP radio, Crew Member Peter Jordan embarked as helmsman with Crew Member Dennis Bailey, Jnr, as his crew. It was still snowing as the twocrew members set out at 2142 and spray was being blown off the choppy sea. They approached as close as they could under outboard engine before hauling the inflatable dinghy a further 100 yards through the water on to the mud. They then walked the last 100 yards to the stranded boat through mud so thick and oozy that with each step taken they sank in a foot or more.

On reaching the casualty they found that she had an anchor cable around her propeller. After discussion by radio with Coxswain Bevan, it was decided to lay out another anchor to secure the boat on the rising tide and then to bring her two crew, both suffering from cold, back to the lifeboat. The owner, a man over 12 stone in weight, had an artificial leg, so that the only way to get him back over the mud to the inflatable dinghy was to carry him.

Dennis Bailey took the disabled man on his back with Peter Jordan steadying him and shining the torch ahead. Each step was made most difficult by the action of the soft mud and, by the time the inflatable dinghy was reached and the disabled man embarked, the two lifeboatmen were exhausted. However, the dinghy was re-launched and Peter Jordan restarted the engine while Dennis Bailey, almost up to his waist in mud and water, held the boat steady head to sea.

Back safely alongside the lifeboat, the helicopter strop kept on board and the electric winch were used to lift the disabled man from the dinghy, and then Crew Member Jordan returned to the mud bank to recover the second survivor and Crew Member Bailey. Both were picked up and all three men returned to the lifeboat wet through up to the waist, covered in mud and very cold. The inflatable dinghy was safely recovered at 2255. Then, using his local knowledge, Coxswain Bevan with expert judgement and precise navigation cleared the shoal area; there were dried out mud banks on both sides of the lifeboat and in places the water shallowed to only five feet.

The two men were landed at Spurn Point at 0125 and at 0138 the lifeboat was back on her moorings, refuelled and ready for service.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Members Peter Jordan and Dennis Bailey. Jnr. A letter of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan and his crew..