Skipper plucked to safety through wheelhouse window in 30ft seas and Force 9 galeCoxswain Alan Thomas of the Tenby lifeboat has been awarded the RNLI's silver medal for bravery following the rescue of three men from two fishing vessels in extreme conditions on 22 September 1989.

Force 9 winds and 30ft breaking seas had almost rolled one of the casualties over at one point, and while working inside the breakers the 47ft lifeboat had been continually engulfed by the breaking seas, estimated at 30ft high.In his official report of the service Mr Mike Vlasto, inspector of lifeboats for the West division, said: 'It required considerable courage, determination and exceptional boat handling ability to carry out this service. The coxswain's quick thinking when Silver Stream was virtually capsized undoubtedly saved the skipper's life.'For their part in the rescue, Second Coxswain Roy Young, Motor Mechanic Dennis Young, Emergency Mechanic Clive Thomas and Crew Members William James and Stephen Crockford all received Medal Service Certificates. A letter of appreciation was also sent to the Mumbles lifeboat for launching to provide a back-up.

At 1614 on Friday, 22 September 1989, Milford Haven Coastguard alerted Mr E.

Bancroft, Tenby station's honorary secretary, that the 35ft motor fishing vessel Seeker was in difficulties off Worms Head, and that the 30ft MFV New Venture was attempting a tow.

Mayday The crew pagers were activated and hand maroons fired by the Coxswain, Alan Thomas, who was still at the boathouse following a service earlier in the day. At 1620 Tenby's 47ft Tyne class lifeboat RFA Sir Galahad was launched down the slipway with Coxswain Thomas in command and headed SE by E at full speed.

As the lifeboat crossed Carmarthen Bay, the two MFVs reported deteriorating conditions, and upgraded their call to a ' Mayday'.

Using their transmissions as a target for the lifeboat's VHP radio direction finder Coxswain Thomas was able to adjust his course to head straight to the casualties in Rhossili Bay, arriving at 1715.

The lifeboat crew arrived to discover that Seeker had already been washed on to the beach by the breaking seas, and that the three crew had been helped ashore by theCoastguard and taken to Ilfracombe.

The wind was now blowing WNW Force 8 to 9, with rain squalls and poor visibility.

The sea was very rough with 30ft breaking waves.

Swansea MRCC requested the launch of the Mumbles lifeboat as back-up and at 1723, the Tyne class Ethel Anne Measures was launched with Coxswain Alan Jones at the wheel.

Another MFV, Silver Stream, was also at the scene, close in to the north side of Worms Head and, together with New Venture, was struggling to remain head-to-sea as she was struck by large breakers inside the surf line.

Coxswain Thomas realised that the conditions would make it impossible to tow eitherof the fishing vessels clear of the beach so he repeatedly manoeuvred the lifeboat inside the surf line to maintain close contact.

The lifeboat was constantly hit by the breaking seas, which engulfed the crew working on deck Rolled By 1730, as conditions worsened and daylight began to fade, the skipper of New Venture realised that it would be necessary for him to head further offshore and requested a course to steer for Tenby.

As Silver Stream was closing up with New Venture to begin the attempt to drive clear, a very large sea struck her broadside and she was rolled over until her keel could be seen.

A large deep-freeze on the vessel's deck was hurled 30ft in the air by the impact of the wave.

Amazingly the MFV recovered, but she was part-full of water and listing to starboard.

Coxswain Thomas could see that the skipper was trapped in the wheelhouse by loose gear on the deck and that with the vessel beam-on to the seas and powerless the man was in grave danger.

Coxswain Thomas drove the lifeboat in towards the casualty, positioning the starboard bow perfectly for a rescue attempt.

With the Coxswain exploiting the lifeboat's manoeuvrability by expert use of the engines Second Coxswain Roy Young and Crew Member Clive Thomas were able topull the skipper clear through the MFV's wheelhouse window and take him below on the lifeboat.

The other MFV, New Venture, was making only some two knots in the steep breaking seas as she battled to clear the beach.

Coxswain Thomas offered to put some of his crew aboard to help, but the skipper declined due to the extremely dangerous conditions.

Slowly New Venture moved into deeper water and began the long passage back to Tenby through rough seas, escorted all the way by the lifeboat. As the situation eased Mumbles lifeboat was released and she was able to return to her station.

When the MFV and lifeboat were within 5 miles of Tenby, Coxswain Thomas transferred two crew to New Venture to help moor in Tenby Roads, the skipper and crew being by now totally exhausted.

At 2035, with the mooring successfully completed, the crew and assisting lifeboatmen were transferred to the lifeboat, which then landed the survivors safely ashore.

The lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and ready for service once more by 2045..