Survivor from wrecked speedboat rescued from base of 35ft cliff Lough Swilly lifeboat crew members Bernard Devlin and Mark Porter have been awarded the Thanks of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution inscribed on Vellum following the rescue of a survivor from a speedboat on 24/25 August 1992 - although neither were aboard the lifeboat at the time.

In his official report of the service Peter Bradley, divisional inspector of lifeboats for Ireland, wrote: The station as a whole are commended for their joint efforts in progressing the service. Every crew member and helper turned-to on the night'.For their part in the service, crew memberGeorgeO'Haganand helmsman of the rigid inflatable Frank O' Hagan were awarded framed letters of thanks signed by the RNLI chairman Michael Vernon, and vellum service certificates were awarded to crew members Sean Smith, Bridgita Kelly, Aidan McLaughlin and Mark Barnett.

At 2200 on 24 August 1992, helmsman George O'Hagan learned that a speedboat with two people aboard was overdue.

It was agreed to wait a further ten minutes, but at 2210 it was decided to activate the pagers, and just six minutes later the D class lifeboat was launched with George O'Hagan at the helm and Sean Smith, Aidan McLaughlin and Bridgita Kelly as crew. Visibility was poor, and it was overcast with continuous light rain, a Force 3 wind and a short choppy sea.

The lifeboat searched the shoreline for six miles in one direction, and then in theother before returning for more flares and relaunching at 2330.

The honorary secretary was aware that the lifeboat was operating in darkness (beyond her normal limits) and so he called on the assistance of Frank O'Hagan, who launched his own rigid inflatable at 2330 with lifeboatmen Bernard Devlin and Mark Barnett as crew.

Other crew members had been despatched to search from the shore, and at 2359 they found one of the missing men, who directed them to a place just south of Dunree Head.

The speedboat could be seen crashing against rocks, and the second survivorwas stranded 35ft below, in distress and in danger of being swept away. The lifeboat and rigid inflatable were alerted and made all speed to the scene.

Despite the risk of slipping in the dark, crew member Mark Porter climbed down to the survivor and found him to be suffering from shock and hypothermia and quite unable to climb the cliff.

Both boats arrived at 0040, and Bernard Devlin volunteered to enter the water to assist Porter and the survivor.

The wind had increased to Force 6 with 4ft breaking seas, and the rain was heavy.

Devlin transferred to the lifeboat and helmsman George O'Hagan skilfully brought his boat to within 15ft of the rocks. Devlin swam to shore with a line and first the survivor and then Porter were recovered by 0115.

The lifeboat and rigid inflatable then returned to the station, reaching it at 0215, when both survivors were treated for shock and hypothermia.

The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service once more at 0235.

• This is the first time that an award-winning RNLI service has been carried out by a crew including a lifeboat woman..