Rescued four SHORTLY BEFORE 1645 on March 27, 1987, a dinghy with five people on board capsized in the roads to the north west of Falmouth lifeboat station.

Mr John Pentecost, working nearby in his Quay Punt workboat Victory immediately went to their assistance, while Falmouth Coastguards alerted the crew of Falmouth's Maclachlan ILB A508, which launched at 1652, with Helmsman Royston Prynn and Crew Members Dave Nicoll, Kevin Mitchell and Nick Lewis on board.

In the meantime Victory arrived alongside the casualties in the water and Mr Pentecost manouvered his boat beside each in turn, skilfully lifting them aboard.

The force 6 wind at the scene was blowing from the west by south, creating a moderately choppy sea.

Mr Pentecost managed to lift four ofthe casualties into his boat—a difficult operation in the prevailing weather and with no-one to assist him. The fifth person had swum ashore to the river bank near Flushing.

While Victory was returning with the casualties she became snarled on a mooring near Flushing. Falmouth ILB arrived at 1656 and one casualty, suffering from hypothermia was removed immediately to the Custom House Quay, Falmouth where an ambulance was waiting.

The remaining three aboard Victory were then removed to Prince of Wales Pier, where a second ambulance was waiting.

The Maclachlan lifeboat then returned to collect the fifth casualty from the shore and take him to the ambulance at Prince of Wales Pier.

A508 returned to the mooring on completion and was refuelled and ready for service at 1750. Some minutes later, Dave Nicoll returned to the Victory to free Mr Pentecost's fouled propeller.

Following this service a framed letter of thanks from the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the RNLI, was presented to Mr Pentecost in recognition of his outstanding contribution to this rescue..