Swimmer saved by lifeboat crew A short but dramatic rescue in which three members of Hastings lifeboat station (one of them the coxswain of the station's Mersey class lifeboat) went into the water to save a young man in danger of being swept out to sea have earned the three men, and the helmsman of the station's D class inflatable which subsequently picked him up, the congratulations of the RNLI's chief of operations.At 1223 on Tuesday 27 June a lifeboat shore helper saw a youth in difficulties approximately 75 yards from the shore inside the harbour arm. He had been swimming with a friend and had apparently become stuck in a mud hole.

It was a little after low water and at this state of tide the gently shelving beach was of soft mud.

He raised the alarm and crew members John Martin and David Curtis, who were close at hand, put on their drysuits.

The weather was fine and clear with a SW Force 5 to 6 wind, and although the harbour wall afforded some protection a 3ft to 4ft swell was sweeping into the harbour.

It was evident that the youth was in danger of being swept to seaward and John Martin entered the water and made his way towards the youth. John Martin carried his lifejacket, intending to use it to float the casualty out of the mud hole, but when he reached him the youth was already clear but could not manage to swim ashore. John Martin tried unsuccessfully to put the lifejacket on the youth and the pair were unable to make any progress.

Crew member David Curtis, wearing his lifejacket, arrived on the scene and helpedsupport the youth while trying to make the shore.

Meanwhile Frederick White, coxswain of Hastings lifeboat, who had seen the difficulties, waded into the water dressed in his everyday clothes and tried to throw a line to the three men. John Martin swam to recover the seaward end of the line and Coxswain White was able to hold firm at the other, although gaining a foothold was difficult due to the depth of water and the swell.

At 1227 the D class lifeboat was launched, single-handed because of the urgency of service, with Helmsman Christopher Cooper on board. The casualties were by now inside the harbour arm and 50 yards off the shoreline.

The youth was helped out of the water by Helmsman Cooper; crew members Martin and Curtis then boarded the inflatable, and Coxswain White was helped ashore as the lifeboat returned to the beach at 1231.

The youth was examined by the station's honorary medical adviser and treated for shock..