INJURED SEAMAN LANDED IN SEVERE GALE AND COMPLETE DARKNESS Force 9 gale and snow squalls hinder Atlantic 21 rescue in The WashHelmsman Alan Clarke of Hunstanton lifeboat has been awarded a bar to his Bronze medal for a service in the station's Atlantic 21 in February 1988. During the operation an injured man was landed from a fishing vessel in extreme weather conditions and total darkness.

The three crew members of the Atlantic, Victor Dade, Brian Rudd and Michael Derby, have all been awarded medalservice certificates.

The incident began at 1732 on 7 February 1988, when Great Yarmouth Coastguard alerted Helmsman Alan Clarke that there was an injured man aboard the MFV Portunus, eight miles north of Hunstanton.

Weather conditions were bad out in the Wash, but after discussion with the station honorary secretary, Mr David McLeod, it was agreed that the lifeboat would launch, with safety calls to the coastguard every ten minutes.

Launched At 1745 Hunstanton's Atlantic 21 Spirit of America was launched with Alan Clarke in command. The wind was a southerly Force 7 with the spring flood setting south. There was a 3ft sea near the beach, good visibility but total darkness.The lifeboat steered NE into The Bays before altering course to the north, using her echo sounder and Decca Navigator. At 1805 contact was made with Portunus, a 70ft steel beamerfrom Kings Lynn. Helmsman Clarke requested she should make for calmer waters near the Sled way and at 1812 the casualty and another vessel were spotted ahead. It was discovered that Portunus's starboard trawl had fouled her propeller and that the tug Viking had taken Portunus in tow, heading for Kings Lynn.

The fouled starboard gear gave only 8ft in which to manoeuvre on the casualty's starboard quarter. In The Deeps the wind was S, Force 9, with a short, steep 10ft to 12ft sea.

The wind was against a two knot tidal stream, with squalls of sleet and snow.

The conditions required complete concentration by the helmsman as the head seas attempted to force the lifeboat broadside to the conditions. Rapid and repeated use of the helm and engines were needed as the lifeboat plunged into one sea after another in total darkness, with nil visibility in the squalls.

Helmsman Clarke's skill was tested to the utmost in this extremely hazardous situation, but he resolved to press forward and attempt a transfer of the casualty.

The first approach was made from astern in very restricted space. Just as the fishing vessel's starboard quarter and the lifeboat's port bow were coming together, a large sea forced them apart.

On the second attempt, as both boats rose on the sea together, the injured man was grabbed by crew members Victor Dade andBrian Rudd and hauled into the lifeboat at 1832. The bow -fairlead almost became entangled in the fishing vessel's net, but Helmsman Clarke took the lifeboat swiftly astern to clear water.

The casualty was dressed in a protective suit and lifejacket and taken aft by Brian Rudd. Crew members Victor Dade and Michael Darby were positioned forward either side of the console so that their weight would help to balance the boat and counteract the effects of the wind under the hull.

Helmsman Clarke set course into the relative shelter of the shoal ground but, nevertheless, the lifeboat had to be squared up several times into the heavy sea. Fierce spray and snow squalls made conditions bitterly cold, with zero visibility. As the lifeboat reached the lee of the banks and the land the sea gradually subsided and the lifeboat was back on the beach at 1933 where an ambulance was waiting to take the casualty to hospital.

Spirit of America was rehoused and ready for service again at 2000..