Injured angler A RED FLARE in the Bracklesham Bay area was spotted at 1005 on Sunday, December 7, 1986 by Hayling Island Crew Member Graham Raines, who advised Solent Coastguard. The station honorary secretary agreed to alert the crew and this was done within four minutes, after an initial problem with the pager signal.

The weather was bad, with a force 5 to 6 southerly wind and poor visibility.

High water was predicted at 1535, placing the entire area in shoal waters, with heavy broken seas over the surrounding sandbanks.

At 1018 the station's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable Aldershot launched from the slipway and crossed the harbour at full speed into increasingly heavy seas.

Gauging the safe depth of water over East Pole Sands, Helmsman Frank Dunster altered to the south east and took the shorter route over the shoal area.

Seas were breaking irregularly at a height of about six feet, but good speed was maintained despite this and the poor visibility, made worse by the spray.

As the lifeboat cleared the east side of the sands, a 20ft angling boat was sighted close to the shoaling area, its single occupant waving and shouting "injured back". Helmsman Dunster took the lifeboat close alongside the windward side of the casulaty, enabling Crew Member David Sigournay to jump aboard the heavily rolling craft.

The middle-aged male occupant was found to be suffering from very severebruising of the head and other bruising to the right arm and back. He was warmly dressed, but did not have a lifejacket. Crew Member Sigournay verified that no-one else was involved and then transferred his own lifejacket to the survivor before attempting to make him comfortable in the small forward wheelhouse.

Next, he manoeuvred the boat clear of the lee shore and shoal area before gently driving the craft to the south, to gain sea room before turning towards the harbour. The beam seas caused more heavy rolling and the survivor was incapable of holding himself steady within the boat.

The Atlantic 21 was staying close by, but Helmsman Dunster decided it was impractical to transfer the survivor in the prevailing conditions.

As the casualty was driven towards the harbour, large stern seas broached her on three occasions, heeling the craft to an angle where Crew Member Sigournay felt convinced she would capsize. The survivor was now showing signs of severe shock or concussion and was incoherent, making the required concentration on safe boat handling very hard.

Evidence of fire in the boat's engine did little to inspire Crew Member Sigournay with confidence in its reliability, but he felt it was imperative to make best possible speed to get professional help for the survivor.

The Aldershot remained close astern in case of urgent need to rescue both men. By 1050 the casualty was safely within the harbour and moored by the sailing club. The survivor was transferred ashore to a waiting ambulance via the Atlantic 21 and thence to Portsmouth Hospital. The Aldershot was refuelled and ready for service at 1130.

Following this service, in recognition of his seamanship and expert boat handling aboard a strange and unreliable craft, Crew Member David Sigournay was accorded the thanks of the Institution on vellum.

Helmsman Frank Dunster and Crew Member Jonathan Bradbury were awarded vellum service certificates..