Trapped under sea wall AT 1852 on Tuesday September 11, 1984, Lyme Regis honorary secretary was informed by Portland Coastguard that some people had been cut off by the tide at Black Beach groynes, some six cables to the north east of Lyme Regis Cobb, and that bodies could be seen in the water.

By 1900, the relief Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat on temporary duty at Lyme Regis, was launched and heading for the reported position. Her crew were Helmsman John Hodder and Crew Members Robert Irish, James Thomas and Paul Wason. A force 3 to 4 breeze was blowing from the north west, visibility was clear, the sea slight with a three foot swell and it was some two hours before high water.

John Hodder drove the lifeboat at full speed, parallel with the coast towards the groynes, then, on nearing the scene, he altered course to the north west to head inshore. At 1908 the lifeboat stood off the groynes, where, due to their poor state of repair, a confused sea was sweeping in through the groynes towards the shore, with waves between eight and ten feet high.

Two men, a woman and a dog could be seen stranded at the head of a groyne on some stone steps below the sea wall.

Two bodies could also be seen floating about twenty feet away from the sea wall, both were motionless.

Although the three people on the stone steps were apparently alive and well, they could not move from the steps. The water was too deep and they were unable to climb the ten foot sea wall behind them. A policeman was above them on the sea wall but could neither climb down nor pull the people up because the wall was too high.

John Hodder manoeuvred the lifeboat towards the two people in thewater who, if still alive, were in most urgent need of rescuing. The wind was now force 4 and to cope with the extraordinary confused sea, he had to use the full range of the two engines' power and direction. A man and a woman's body were pulled aboard by the crew members and the lifeboat drew clear of the scene.

The two bodies appeared to be lifeless, but Robert Irish and James Thomas immediately began to administer first aid and resuscitation. Helmsman Hodder then decided that the three people on the head of the groyne should at once be lifted off as the tide was rising and they were in danger of being swept off by the confused sea. He approached the groyne, again using the full range of power and direction of his engines to position the stern of the lifeboat firmly into the angle between the head of the groyne and the stone steps.

The two men who were stranded seemed to be suffering from exhaustion and the woman indicated with some despair that she would not leave the dog behind. But the policeman above managed to grasp the dog's leash and hauled the dog (a full grown Alsatian) by the neck up the sea wall. While he was doing this, the three casualties were grasped, one by one, and heaved aboard the lifeboat by Crew Member Paul Wason. It had been impossible to hold the stern of the lifeboat in position for more than two or three seconds at a time and John Hodder needed to make eight different approaches.

All three people were wrapped in survivors' sheets and the crew attempted to warm them. The crew had also, throughout the rescue, tried to revive the two picked out of the water with mouth to mouth resuscitation. The lifeboat returned to harbour where it was met by an ambulance and the station's honorary medical adviser. The two people from the water were pronounced dead and the other three, all of whom had to be carried ashore, were suffering from exposure. Minor damage had been sustained to the lifeboat's bow, which was later repaired with a patch. She was rehoused, ready again for service at 1930.

For this service the thanks of the Institution, inscribed on vellum, have been awarded to Helmsman John L.

Hodder. Letters of appreciation, signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the RNLI, were sent to Crew Members Robert Irish, James R. Thomas and Paul Wason..