Girl trapped RED FLARES off Fairhaven, on the east side of Great Cumbrae Island, were sighted from • Largs lifeboathouse at 1938 on Sunday July 24, 1983. Maroons were fired; an attempt was made to ring the honorary secretary's telephone number but the line was engaged as Clyde Coastguard was at that moment requesting the lifeboat be launched to the same incident following a 999 call from a member of the public.

At 1944 Largs Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat Independent Forester Liberty was launched down the slipway and set out on service manned by Helmsman John Strachan and Crew Members Arthur Hill and David Hewitt. Once clear of the slipway VHP radio contact was established with Clyde Coastguard. The wind was variable force 1 and the sea slight. It was ll/2 hours after low water and visibility was good.

A direct course was set to the casualty which could be seen surrounded by several other boats about l'/2 miles away. Full speed was maintained and by 1947 the lifeboat was approaching the casualty. The crew could see that a motor cruiser had capsized; only her bow was showing above the water. A yacht was close to the upturned hull and a man could be seen knocking on the outside of the hull. Two motor boats and several inflatable dinghies were also standing by.

One of the men in the yacht, Silver Wing, told Helmsman Strachan that they had picked up two men from the water, while another man, who was unconscious, had been recovered by the motor boat Atina. However, a young girl was still trapped in the cabin of the capsized boat.

Realising that there was no hope of righting the boat, which was about 14ft long and well down by the stern, Helmsman Strachan asked Crew Member Hill to enter the water and investigate the hull. Arthur Hill, who was wearing a dry suit, removed his lifejacket and bump cap. It was decided not to use a lifeline, which might have caught on an obstruction and which could not havebeen used to pull him back once he was under the hull. While Crew Member Hill was getting ready, Helmsman Strachan considered putting Crew Member Hewitt aboard the motor boat to help with the resuscitation of the unconscious man. He was told, however, by a doctor aboard one of the attending boats that the man was dead.

Crew Member Hill, having been briefed by Helmsman Strachan, entered the water at 1953. After three attempts he managed to duck down about three feet and get under the cabin top of the upturned boat. Entering the hull he found the young girl trapped forward in a small airpocket. She was wearing a lifejacket and was up to her neck in the water. There was enough light coming through the glass fibre hull to be able to see quite well, but it was difficult to breath because of fuel fumes; the air was very stale.

Arthur Hill talked to the girl, who was obviously frightened, reassured her and coaxed her aft, explaining that he was going to try to push her down under the coaming to get her clear of the boat.

Meanwhile, Helmsman Strachan was getting concerned for Arthur Hill's safety.

After allowing him 90 seconds to investigate the hull, he handed over command of the lifeboat to Crew Member Hewitt and dived into the water and under the hull himself.

' Coming up under the hull, Helmsman Strachan could see Arthur Hill's back and hear him talking calmly to the girl, but there was not enough room for him to surface with them. He ducked back outside the hull and, satisfied that Crew Member Hill was all right, got back aboard the Atlantic.

On his first attempt to push the girl down and under the coaming, Arthur Hill did not manage to push her deep enough. She resurfaced inside the hull and she was very disorientated. Arthur Hill calmed her and, deciding that it was probably her lifejacket which had prevented him from getting her deep enough to clear the coaming the first time, he tried to take it off. The knots were too tight, however, and there was too little space for movement.

At about this time, Arthur Hill sensed that the hull was being turned and a change of trim made it necessary for him and the girl to angle their heads to keep their mouths out of the water.

What was left of the air was very stale and he realised that his next attempt had to be successful. Helmsman Strachan had re-entered the water and managed to push up on one side of the hull. He could see the girl's legs hanging below the coaming and as Arthur Hill pushed her down he grabbed her legs and managed to pull her clear. She was taken aboard the lifeboat by Crew Member Hewitt.

Arthur Hill managed to get out from under the hull unaided but he was now very white and suffering from lack of oxygen. He was helped into the Atlantic where he quickly recovered his colourand alertness. By this time, the other two survivors had been transferred from Silver Wing to the Atlantic.

Helmsman Strachan asked that an ambulance should meet the lifeboat and then made a quick passage back to the station, arriving shortly after 2000. The girl was landed into the care of a waiting doctor and ambulance and taken to hospital; she was later released. The other two men were also seen by the doctor.

The Atlantic was recovered, refuelled and once again ready for service at 2020.

For this service the silver medal was awarded to Crew Member Arthur Maclean Hill who had shown great courage and remarkable determination and coolness in a very difficult situation.

The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Helmsman John W. Strachan and a medal service certificate was presented to Crew Member David Hewitt. Letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Mr D. Fraser, owner of the 28ft yacht Silver Wing, who had arrived on scene before the lifeboat, fired flares to attract attention, recovered two men from the water and given the lifeboatmen information and help; to Mr L.

Hughes, owner of the 26ft motor boat Atina, who recovered the dead man from the water before the lifeboat arrived, later taking the body to Largs Pier, well away from the lifeboat station where the girl, who was his daughter, was being landed, and who had given what other help he could; and to Mr. H.

Maclean, chief instructor at Inverclyde Water Sports Centre, who had reported the capsize to the Coastguards and then sent out an Avon Searider from the centre to help and, later, a workboat to tow in the upturned motor boat..