Injured boy RAMSEY COASTGUARD telephoned Peel lifeboat station at 1943 on Tuesday April 20, 1982, asking for immediate help for a boy who had fallen over the cliffs at Eairy Cushlin. Maroons were fired and the crew assembled. The Neil Robertson stretcher was put aboard before, at 1950, the station's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat launched on service; she was manned by Helmsman Brian Maddrell and Crew Members Edward Allen and Colin Makin and Dr Keith Jones also embarked with the crew. It was a calm evening with light winds from the south west. High tide was at 2206.

Once clear of the breakwater lighthouse, at 1954, course was set for Eairy Cushlin, 300ft cliffs some seven milessouth west of Peel. As they approached, at 2015, the crew could see the 15-year-old boy at the water's edge; two men were with him. As soon as the lifeboat was close enough. Helmsman Maddrell asked Crew Member Allen to swim ashore to assess the situation.

Reaching the shore, Crew Member Allen found that the boy, who had fallen some 30 feet, was very severely injured and he indicated that the doctor was needed immediately. Helmsman Maddrell manoeuvred the lifeboat between rocks to within ten feet of the shore and Dr Jones, accompanied by Edward Allen, who had come to meet him, swam to the casualty.

Port Erin Coastguard cliff rescue team was ready to give help if needed and a helicopter, scrambled from RAF Valley, was on her way.

Crew Member Allen swam back to the lifeboat, which acted as radio link throughout, to report to Helmsman Maddrell that Dr Jones thought the injured boy should be air lifted to hospital; he then swam back to shore, first with a red parachute flare to be fired when the helicopter was sighted, then with a survival sheet; one hand had to be kept free to combat the severe swell and undertow on the rocks.

One of the boy's friends was sent to a vantange point to watch for the helicopter; as soon as she was sighted, Crew Member Allen fired the flare. The helicopter homed in on the flare and, with directions from the lifeboatman at the mouth of the cleft in the rocks, lowered a para medic and a stretcher.

About a quarter of an hour later, following a message brought out by Crew Member Allen and transmitted bythe lifeboat, more medical supplies were lowered. After further treatment the boy was placed in a stretcher and lifted into the helicopter, followed by the doctor, to be flown to Nobles Hospital.

By now seven of the boy's friends had gathered. As the light was failing.

Helmsman Maddrell thought it would be too dangerous for them to go back up the cliff, so he arranged to take them in the lifeboat to Peel. With the tide making all the time he was able to go in bow first over rocks to the cliff face.

Three approaches were made to embark first the seven men, helped by Crew Member Allen, once again in the water, and finally Edward Allen himself with the lifeboat's stretcher.

Helmsman Maddrell then manoeuvred the lifeboat into deeper water and headed back for Peel; a radio call was made for dry clothing to be waiting for the two men who had been with the injured boy most of the time.

The lifeboat arrived back on station at 2145; she was rehoused and once again ready for service at 2205.

The injured boy was transferred to a Liverpool Hospital the following morning by helicopter but sadly, despite all attempts to save his life, he died later that day.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Dr Keith Jones, Helmsman Brian Maddrell and Crew Members Edward Allen and Colin Makin..