Short service iust 500 yards from station - but a surfer's life is saved Ashort but very difficult service by North Sunderland's D class inflatable lifeboat on 18 May 1996 undoubtedly saved the life of a surfer, and also led to the award of the Institution's Thanks on Vellum to her helmsman, Stephen Priestly. In his report on the service Guy Flatten, the deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the north remarked: 'it was carried out with great skill and courage by both crewmen.

Helmsman Priestley demonstrated excellent seamanship and determination. He handled the lifeboat superbly in the surf and the lifeboat could well have capsized had he not read the 10ft seas so well. Many local people were impressed with the way both men coped with the situation.'The surfer was first seen to be in difficulty about 500 yards north of North Sunderland harbour and the 16ft D class inshore lifeboat, with Helmsman Stephen Priestley and crew member Darren Shell on board, was launched within minutes.

Once clear of the harbour she was exposed to the full force of a 10ft to 12ft swell rolling in from the north east.

The casualty was found some 100 yards offshore, inside the surf line and in an area where a rock scar protruded from the land without a beach. Stephen Priestley chose his moment to take the lifeboat into the surf, making towards the man on the back of a wave. But before he could get the lifeboat alongside the surfer, he saw a large wave approaching which was about to break.

Aborting the run in, he turned the lifeboat to port and took her about 40 yards south to where the wave had not yet broken. From here he was able to take the lifeboat back out clear of the surf ready for another attempt.

Speed Heading back into the surf again he managed to get alongside the man, who was greatly distressed and was thrashing about in the water even though another surfer had stayed alongside to try to calm him down.

Crew member Darren Shell began to pull the man aboard the lifeboat, while Stephen Priestley stayed at the helm watching the seas.

Speed was all-important as another 10ft wave appeared, and was about to break on the lifeboat.

At the last moment, Darren Shell managed to get the casualty and his surf board into the lifeboat. The direct route back out to deep water, and safety, was blocked by the breaking wave so,having made sure that the other surfer could get ashore safely, Helmsman Priestley powered the lifeboat to the south just inshore of the breaking wave until he found a spot where he could turn to port, break through the wave and escape out through the surf.

Meanwhile Darren Shell had to put his full weight on the port bow to prevent a capsize and at the same time keep the panicking man in the bottom of the lifeboat.

The D class then landed the man at the lifeboat station, where he was looked after by the station officials..