Freighter sinks CROSSMA, the French Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Joburg, informed St Peter Port Radio, Guernsey, at 0104 on Tuesday January 24, 1984, that the Liberian freighter Radiant Med had developed a serious list 13 miles north west by north of Roches Douvre Lighthouse.

Crossma asked if St Peter Port lifeboat could be launched to help. This information was passed to the stationhonorary secretary who immediately assembled the lifeboat crew. The French warship Casablanca was standing by the casualty. At 0113 Radiant Med reported that she was sinking and asked for immediate assistance.

At 0128 St Peter Port's 52ft Arun lifeboat Sir William Arnold slipped her moorings and set out at full speed under the command of Coxswain Michael Scales. A strong gale, force 9, was blowing from west north west. At St Peter Port Harbour entrance, sheltered by the island, the sea and swell were moderate, under a cloudy sky. Visibility was moderate but reduced by rain and hail squalls. Low water neaps had passed some three hours earlier.

When clear of the harbour a course of 180°M was set. At about 0140, from a position nine cables south of St Martin's Point, the course was altered to 260°M, allowing for wind and tide. Severe sea conditions were met. Coxswain Scales made every attempt to achieve full speed but was frequently obliged to put the engines into neutral as he negotiated breaking crests more than 40 feet high; gusts up to violent storm, force 11, were accompanied by severe rain squalls. At one time the lifeboat was thrown on to her beam ends and came upright on a heading of 120 degrees.

Three of the crew, most experienced men, were severely seasick and the coxswain himself had difficulty in reading the compass because of the motion.

At 0253 Coxswain Scales was able to obtain the latest information from Casablanca.

The warship had found survivors but was unable to pick them up because of her size. The lifeboat was brought within half a mile of the warship and then hove-to while Coxswain Scales went up to the upper steering position and organised his crew with lifelines and searchlights. Following the warship's directions the lifeboat steamed 330°T at four to five knots for three quarters of a mile, and at 0315 spotted two small white lights in the water.

The tide was flowing west south west at 1V2 knots. The wind, still blowing from west north west, was force 9 gusting to 11 and this combination created a very steep sea with occasional crests 40 feet high. Coxswain and crew, already exhausted by the violent motion during the passage out, were cold from the heavy rain and the very heavy salt spray.

The two white lights came from a ship's boat about 25 feet long. She only had 8 inches freeboard and the sea was washing in and out of her as she lay across the wind. Coxswain Scales made his approach from a position to windward of the boat, swinging to port to bring the lifeboat alongside and upwind.

A heaving line was passed from the lifeboat and ropes and falls trailing in the water were caught and looped over the lifeboat's after bitts.

In the lee of the wheelhouse, on the starboard side, five lifeboatmen, attached by lifelines, assisted aboard the only two survivors able to help themselves; the others had to be hauled aboard, over or through the rails, one of them apparently unconscious. The after deck soon became congested by thesurvivors and, as he was unable to manoeuvre at that time, Coxswain Scales left the wheel to help move the men from the after deck into the wheelhouse.

Nine men were successfully taken off the ship's boat. A tenth man was seen in the boat, apparently dead, when Coxswain Scales seized an opportunity to manoeuvre clear before the interaction between the lifeboat and the ship's boat should cause the latter to sink. After making sure his nine survivors were safe Coxswain Scales again approached the ship's boat. The searchlight revealed the tenth man face downward and under a thwart, entangled in rope and sails, but he was dead. The coxswain took the decision to search elsewhere for other survivors rather than to recover the body.

Motor Mechanic Robert Vowles had remained in the deckhouse attending to engines and radios. As the first aid expert in the crew he took care of the survivors as they were passed to him.

Cutting off their lifejackets and outer clothing he wrapped them in blankets and secured them in the fore cabin in an effort to combat hypothermia and shock. One man, later found to be a radio officer, caused him great concern.

Placing him in a space blanket he wedged him between seats in the deckhouse, using lifejackets for protection.

He hoped that heat rising through the deck from the engine room would be beneficial. The man, who had very little pulse, was breathing shallowly so, every ten minutes or so, Motor Mechanic Vowles rubbed him all over and pummelled him to stimulate his pulse and help him to remain conscious.

Coxswain Scales was starting a search of the area when the warship directed her on a course of 080°T to a liferaft. In heavy rain the lifeboat made for the position at full speed. The searchlight revealed that what had been thought to be the liferaft was indeed the forefoot of the sunken Radiant Med and the coxswain had to make an emergency stop.

The warship was informed that part of the ship was still above the surface. The time was then 0404.

The search was continued, but with the arrival of HMS Orkney and a Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, and in view of the condition of the survivors, at 0430 the lifeboat was released to start back for St Peter Port.

In the very heavy following sea she broached several times and it was only when the lee of the island was gained that full speed could be maintained.

The lifeboat reached harbour at 0613 and the survivors were handed into the care of St John Ambulance Brigade officers. After refuelling, the lifeboat remained on stand by until 0842 at the request of HMS Orkney, now 'on scene commander'. Fourteen bodies were recovered during the next few days; three men were missing, presumed dead.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain Michael J. Scales and the thanks of the Institution in-scribed on vellum were accorded to Motor Mechanic Robert L. Vowles.

Medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Peter N.

Bougourd, Assistant Mechanic Alan F.

Martel and Crew Members Peter J.

Bisson, Michael Guille and Richard J.

Hamon..