Atlantic saves five from speedboat capsized in heavy surf Helmsman Brian Gould of the Cullercoats lifeboat has been awarded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum for saving five people from their capsized speedboat on 8 April 1995.Crew members Mark McGlasson and Paul Tooke have been awarded Vellum Service certificates and two surfers involved in the rescue, Mark Ward and Stephen Hudson, will receive letters of thanks from the RNLI's Chief of Operations.

The speedboat, Cavabien, had capsized in surf 400 yards off Tynemouth beach, throwing five people into the water - including a five year old boy. Two surfers went to their assistance and held the boy on their surfboard until the lifeboat arrived.

Despite problems with the starboard engine stopping and the port engine cutting out, Helmsman Gould managed to manoeuvre the lifeboat alongside the people in heavy surf three times, until all five had been hauled on board.

In his official report, Guy Flatten, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the north, said; The speed and brevity of this service in no way detracts from the excellent seamanship and leadership shown by Helmsman Gould. This service would have required skill and good judgement even if the lifeboat was operating correctly, however, for much of the time the lifeboat was operating on one, underpowered engine in 3m breaking seas.

'After rescuing the child Helmsman Gould was faced with the difficult decision to either run back to harbour and risk the lives of the remaining casualties in the water, or to continue in the knowledge that his engines were proving less than reliable. It is to his credit that he continued the service and as a result two lives were saved. The two surfers, Mark Ward and Stephen Earl Hudson, are also to be admired for paddling out to the casualties.

Their selfless action undoubtedly helped keep the survivors alive until the lifeboat could reach them.' It was at 1513 on Saturday 8 April 1995 that Tyne Tees MRSC told Cullercoats lifeboat station of the capsized speedboat, which was 200 yards north of Sharpness Point. Just three minutes later the station's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable launched with Helmsman Brian Gould incommand and although the starboard engine cut out on launching it was quickly restarted.

The lifeboat reached the casualty in four minutes to find two people lying on the upturned hull and a group of people just inside the surf line. A 3m to 4m northerly swell was running, causing a rough breaking sea on the beach. The wind was northerly, Force 4 to 5.

Helmsman Gould decided to run in towards the beach, then turn and head back out to sea, picking the casualties up while head-to-sea. Matching the speed of the sea he ran in on the back of one of the waves and, once it had broken, turned to port and came head-to-sea. As he did so, the starboard engine stopped, and could not be restarted. The port engine was also only producing limited power and the lifeboat was barely able to make headway through the surf. Despite this the lifeboat headed towards the casualties, all the while attempting to 'bump start' the starboard engine.

Surfers The lifeboat crew could see five people in the water, including two surfers who had paddled out and taken a child of five on to one of their boards and who were encouraging the other two casualties to hang on to their boards. None of the casualties were wearing lifejackets and two of them, including the boy, were dressed only in jeans and T-shirts.

As the lifeboat approached, Brian Gould decided that he could not risk stopping, so crew members McGlasson and Tooke stood on the starboard side and grabbed the boy as the lifeboat passed.

He was very cold and frightened and had been in the water for about 30 minutes.

The crew wrapped him in a survival bag.

Helmsman Gould was then faced with a very difficult decision - rush the boy toshore, or run back in and attempt to recover the other casualties, whose condition was also becoming critical.

He decided to rescue the remaining people, and turning the lifeboat he increased speed, running back into towards the beach and then turning to head-to-sea once again. At that moment two huge seas hit the lifeboat, which had very limited power, and forced her up until she was vertical. Fortunately she landed stern first and also ended up head to the next breaking sea.

Helmsman Gould approached the other two casualties and did not stop the lifeboat as they grabbed the lifelines.

Tooke and McGlasson held onto them and once calmer water was reached, the lifeboat was stopped so that they could be taken onboard. One man, who was wearing a wet suit, climbed on board but the other - the boy's father - was suffering badly from hypothermia and had to be lifted in.

Clinging Helmsman Gould then ran the lifeboat in for a third time to pick up the casualties who were clinging to the upturned hull.

The surfers confirmed that they could make their own way ashore and so the lifeboat made best speed back to the station, where the casualties were handed over to the waiting paramedics from an air ambulance which had landed on the beach. The time was 15.40.

The lifeboat's engines appeared to be working perfectly when she was rehoused but during an exercise launch the following day the same problems were experienced.

The RNLI's coast engineering team was called and the cause of the problems was found to be water in the fuel tanks. The lifeboat was withdrawn for repairs and a relief Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboat was immediately placed on service..