C classjj-Iu_cksjthreejto safety from cliff base The rescue of three people from cliffs on the Cardigan coast has earned two C class crew members the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum, with a third going to an off-duty lifeguard who played an active part in the service. The two other lifeboat crew members will receive Vellum Service Certificates.Off-duty lifeguard Simon Jury first spotted the three people and their dog as he paddled out to go surfing the evening of 28 August 1996. They were cut off by the rising tide - predicted as one of the highest of the year - and one of them had started climbing the cliff. Realising that he would not make it to the top Simon paddled in through the breakers to the beach, with some difficulty, and told them to stay where they were while he raised the alarm.

Paddling to Aberporth he contacted the Coastguard who in turn alerted Cardigan lifeboat station.

Six minutes later the station's C class inflatable was underway, launching into a 25 knot NNW wind with crew members Jeremy Thomas, Leonard Walters, Andrew Walters and Michael Faulker aboard.

With time of the essence the lifeboat took the shortest possible route, passing inside Cardigan Island and through several sets of heavy overfalls with helmsman Thomas having to constantly alter course and speed to counter the effects of a large breaking sea.

Meanwhile New Quay's Coastguard mobile had arrived on scene and advised the lifeboat that rescue up the cliff would be impossible.

The C class arrived at the scene at 1844, and with the deteriorating weather and failing light the crew realised that the passage back to Cardigan would be long, slow and uncomfortable for the casualties, so they asked that New Quay's Mersey class be launched to take the three walkers once they had been rescued from the beach.

Several attempts were made to anchor off and veer down towards the casualties, but the anchor dragged each time. The beach was too rocky to take the lifeboat on to, so the only option was for one of the lifeboat crewto swim aline ashore. Len Walters had agreed to do this when Simon Jury arrived back at the scene, paddling a bigger, more stable board.

As he paddled ashore, towing Len Walters, Andrew Walters and Mike Faulkner carefully paid out a line. Just then a large set of waves came along, throwing the lifeboat across the line and fouling it on the port propeller. The snatch separated Len Walters from Simon Jury, who lost his paddle.

Helmsman Thomas kept the lifeboat in position with the remaining engine while the line was cleared, but it was now too short - pulling Len Walters back into the surf. The anchor line was cut to lengthen the lifeline and, with the three casualties in lif ejackets and roped to Len Walters, the lifeboat slowly pulled them clear.

Despite grounding on some rocks on the way they suffered only minor cuts as they were pulled back out to the lifeboat - with Simon Jury escorting them after retrieving his paddle - and as soon as they cleared the surf they were taken aboard.

Simon then set off back to Aberporth, and once the lifeboat crew were satisfied that he was safe the three survivors were transferred to New Quay's Mersey - not without some difficulty in the 2m swells and breaking seas.

The Mersey was soon able to set off on the ninemile passage back to her station, with the survivors snug in her wheelhouse, but the C class faced another 40 minute trip back to Cardigan in rough conditions.

The casualties' dog was found, safe and well, the next day.The Lifeboat C class inflatable Operational Number C518 The Crew Thanks on Vellum: Helmsman Jeremy Thomas Crew Member Leonard Walters Lifeguard Simon Jury Vellum Service Certificates Andrew Walters Michael Faulkner.