Search for missing boys THE DEPUTY LAUNCHING AUTHORITY at St Agnes was informed by Falmouth Coastguard at 1746 on Tuesday August 28, 1984, that a youth was cut off by the tide at Chapelporth. Maroons were immediately fired and by 1750 St Agnes' 15ft 6in D class inflatable lifeboat, manned by Helmsman Peter Bliss and Crew Members John Stephens and Paul Gamble, was launched and heading at full speed for the casualty.

It was an hour and a half before high water, there was a westerly wind, force 4 to 5, a moderate sea and a five foot ground swell. The lifeboat rounded St Agnes Head and at 1758 hove to off Chapelporth. The swell was now six feet in height and the breaking surf close inshore was reaching eight to ten feet.

Visibility was good and the Coastguard cliff rescue team could be seen indicating to the lifeboat that they intended to lift the casualty, a smallboy, some 50 feet up the cliff. The Chapelporth lifeguard who was also on the scene, informed the lifeboat helmsman that he had been told by the boy that there was another boy who had last been seen in the vicinity of a large cave, to the south of Chapelporth. By this time a search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose had arrived and while the boy was being hauled up the cliff, Helmsman Bliss steered the lifeboat through the breaking surf towards the cave to look for the second boy.

When they reached the cave, half a mile away, its floor and entrance were completely covered by the rising tide and all access was therefore impossible.

The lifeboat crews continued to search the immediate coastline for any sign of the second boy. The area between St Agnes Head and Gullyn Rock was vigorously patrolled, the lifeboat returning to the cave on several occasions.

Finally, at 2050, the search was called off and the lifeboat returned to station where she was refuelled and ready for service at 2115.

The body of the second boy was eventually recovered from the cave at 2300 by the Coastguard. He was drowned after having been cut off by the rising tide.

Following this service, a letter, signed by the chief of operations, Cdr Bruce Cairns, was sent to the crew of St Agnes lifeboat, thanking them for their dedicaton and determination in searching in breaking surf for over three hours..