Surfer saved by Atlantic after night search in severe weather The Thanks of the Institution on Vellum has been awarded to Nigel Sweeny, the helmsman of St Catherine's (Jersey, Channel Islands) lifeboat during a night service in severe conditions in which a surfer was located and rescued after a 12 mile passage in rough confused seas and 30 knot winds.Reporting on the service the deputy divisional inspector, south, Jim Drake said 'during the entire service helmsman Sweeny handled the lifeboat with considerable skill, using his extensive knowledge of boat and local area conditions to best effect.' Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Director have been sent to crew members Paul Richardson and John Heyes in recognition of their valuable contribution to the service.

Itwas2110onljanuaryl994 when the Jersey station honorary secretary, Captain Roy Bullen, heard from the police that a person was in distress in the water off Plemont, to the north west of the island.

The St Catherine's Atlantic 21 Jessie Eliza launched with some difficulty at 2136 into breaking seas up to 10ft high - which at one stage moved lifeboat, trailer and tractor up the beach.

Breakers The lifeboat, manned by helmsman Nigel Sweeny and crew members Paul Richardson and John Heyes, first headed out to sea to clear the breakers in St Catherine Bay and then began the 12 mile passage to Plemont, where the last cries for help had been heard. The passage was hampered by large confused seas kicked up by 30 knot south westerly winds and ebb tide, and also by violent rain and hail showers which reduced visibility to less than 20 yards.

St Helier's Tyne class lifeboat had been launched at 2200 to help with the search, and she arrived in the search area at 2245, followed by the Channel Island Air Search aircraft.

The St Catherine Atlantic arrived atPlemont at 2235, by which time the bay had been lit from the shore by police and fire officers, assisted by lifeboat crew members who had driven around from the station.

Although the casualty had been seen from the shore at times he was not visible when the lifeboat arrived. A search was started using flares and spotlight but the sea was now breaking some 200 yards off the shore and visibility was further reduced by strong winds and persistent driving rain. Communications were also difficult, hampered by the proximity of the cliff face and a fault with the lifeboat's radio.

At 2250 the lifeboat located the casualty clinging to his surf board and helmsman Sweeny manoeuvred the boat in difficult conditions enabling his crew to recover the casualty on the first attempt.

Once safely in the lifeboat the crew im-mediately began first aid treatment as the casualty was suffering from the cold. He told the crew there was probably a second casualty still in the water in the immediate area so helmsman Sweeny resumed the search.

Within a short time the casualty in the lifeboat started showing signs of hypothermia, shock and seasickness so, with the St Helier lifeboat and the aircraft available to continue the search, helmsman Sweeny decided to land the casualty at the nearest landing place - Bonne Nuit Bay four miles to the east - and after a difficult passage he was landed to a waiting ambulance at 2330.

The Atlantic then made the four mile passage back through the rough seas to resume the search with the St Helier lifeboat and the aircraft, this time concentrating on the immediate area of the shoreline.

Rocks Unable to search effectively from a distance, helmsman Sweeny manoeuvred the lifeboat close to the rocky shoreline, often less than two boat lengths away from the cliffs and rocks always having to be aware of rocks and 'heads' which would suddenly appear in the swell.

At 0030 the St Catherine lifeboat started her 12 mile passage back to station, again through rough seas and heavy rain. She arrived at 0130, refuelled, repairs were made to the radio and she was ready for service again at 0400.

The search, having been called off temporarily at 0130, was resumed early the next morning with both the St Helier and St Catherine lifeboats taking part.

At 0812 the pilot cutter Ronez sighted a person on a surf board near St Aubins Bay, on the south of the island. This was the other missing person and after he had been recovered by the cutter and returned to St Helier the search was finally called off at 0826..