Lone surfer saved in_near gale Eastbourne's D class inflatable saved the life of a surfer on 21 June 1997 in conditions which swamped the lifeboat when launching, threw a crew member overboard and needed the all-weather lifeboat to provide a hauling-off line after beaching on an exposed shore to get the man to a waiting ambulance.

Coastguard John Buckland was turning his Land-Rover around at the end of his watch when he looked out to sea from force of habit and, quite by chance, saw the surfer in difficulties. Using his mobile phone he asked for immediate assistance at 1352 -and the inshore lifeboat was launched at 1358.

With a Force 7 to 8 wind and a 'dumping' surf the launch was difficult, and even using the hauling-off line the D class was filled completely twice.

Once clear of the surf the inflatable headed north-east towards the casualty, who was only about a mile away, as fast as possible in the following sea. About half-way a sea hit the lifeboat as crew member Mark Chesel was using the radio to talk to the coastguard mobile. The boat lurched to port, throwing him overboard. He was recovered unharmed, but winded, and the lifeboat continued towards the surfer.

A few minutes later the lifeboat arrived at the casualty and took him quickly aboard. He waswearing only a pair Eastbourne of shorts and was so cold that he could not feel his legs at all.

His condition was deteriorating rapidly and, as the coastguard mobile had a supply of blankets and had been joined by another lifeboat crew member who was a first-aider, the surfer was landed close to them at the nearest available point. He was taken ashore and kept warm until an ambulance arrived.

With the casualty safe the crew returned to the lifeboat - where itwas clear that they would need some help to reposition her clear of some groynes and that she could not be re-launched without some sort of hauling-off line. The all-weather lifeboat was launched while four other crew members went by road to move the inflatable clear of the obstructions.

The station's Mersey, Royal Thames, arrived at 1431 and was carefully manoeuvred as close to the lee shore as was safe. With a shore helper in the water to take the heaving line a tow was successfully attached and the D class given a helping hand through the breakers before both boats returned to station.

The surfer was taken to hospital but released after treatment having had a very close call..