Torbay: On September 22, 1983, a young man fell 60ft into the sea when rocks crumbled beneath his feet on cliffs at Babbacombe. Two friends pulled the injured man from the sea, raised the alarm and then returned with blankets. Torbay's 18ft 6in McLachlan lifeboat, manned by Helmsman Derek Rundle and Crew Members John Ashford and Brian Counter, went to the scene but the swell made it unsafe to embark the injured man; the lifeboat stood by, however, until he had been lifted to safety by helicopter.

photograph by courtesy of Torquay Herald Express.