Three saved during Southland's worst weather in a decade and a half \ Southend lifeboat Helmsman John Foster has been awarded the RNLI's Bronze Medal for bravery with Crew Members Michael Whistler and Ian Rees receiving the Thanks on Vellum, for saving the lives of three people stranded on board an angling boat on 24 October 1999.Three people were stranded aboard the angling boat, Lady Jane, in some of the worst weather ever experienced at Southend. The Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat had difficulty negotiating the steep breaking seas and very large swell in the poor visibility. The three survivors were found cold, wet and seasick and had to be assisted from the boat into the lifeboat. This transfer was difficult and dangerous in the conditions.

At 0950 on Sunday 24 October 1999. Thames Coastguard received a 999 call via mobile telephone from the casualty, an 18ft angling boat, reporting three persons stranded on board without lifejackets and in deteriorating weather conditions.

Lady Jane was moored some 500 yards from a lee shore and to the southeast of Halfway House on Southend seafront. Weather conditions at the time were reported as SSE Force 8-9, swell 9-12ft, very rough seas, overcast skies with rain and occasional driving squalls.

The Southend lifeboat crew were paged shortly Outer limit of moorings Wind SSE Force 8-9 after, which coincided with the duty crew and launchers making their way to the station to take up their Sunday duty at the end of the pier. The lifeboat was initially paged for two incidents, the Lady Jane and an angling boat having difficulty finding shelter off West Leigh Middle buoy. The crew rapidly made their way on foot to the pier end, a distance of over a mile, to prepare for immediate launch. On arrival at the station the lifeboat was made ready for launch and, anticipating the condition of the persons stranded on board the Lady Jane, the launchers placed extra warm clothing in the boat and made the survivors lifejackets ready.

After consultation between lifeboat secretary Colin Sedgewick and the Coastguard, Southend's Atlantic Percy Garron It, launched to assist the Lady Jane. Helmsman John Foster initially headed NNE at reduced speed to the outer limits of the moorings - which run east from the pier between a quarter and half a mile offshore - then swept east along the line of moorings.

Risk Throughout the journey there was a significant risk of capsize, given the prevailing conditions of short steep breaking seas and the very large swell being driven by the wind. There was also the additional risk of the lifeboat becoming fouled on one of the many moorings which lie offshore, the poor visibility caused by spray being driven almost horizontally from the breaking waves, the sea state and occasional squalls making them very difficult to locate visually.

The casualty was located at 1045 and found to be heaving violently at her mooring. She was rising and falling some 9ft in the swell with her deck awash from the waves, which were continually breaking through the boat. The three persons on board the Lady Jane (two teenagers and a middle aged man) were huddled in the boat's cuddy, cold, sea sick and incapable of helping themselves. The decision was therefore taken to place crewman Ian Rees aboard to assist them.

After initially laying astern of the casualty'sstarboard quarter to assess his approach, Helmsman Foster skilfully manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside and placed Ian on board. He then briefed each person individually before assisting them one by one into the lifeboat. The lifeboat made four approaches from the starboard quarter of the casualty in order to rescue the three survivors.

On the second approach, an unusually large wave broke through the Lady Jane, threatening to wash the remaining two casualties and Ian overboard.

It was only the prompt alerting from Michael Whistler, shouting 'get down and hang on!' which prevented this from happening.

Seamanship There was a very real possibility of the lifeboat landing on the Lady Jane at this point because of her erratic movements, caused by her continual snatching at the mooring and the large rise and fall of the lifeboat in the swell. It was only the superior boat handling, seamanship and very real courage displayed by Helmsman Foster, which prevented this possibility from becoming a reality, Crew members, Ian Rees and Michael Whistler showed great fortitude and bravery as there was a great potential of serious injury being caused by the violent movements of both vessels in the prevailing conditions.

After recovery of the casualties and Ian Rees, Helmsman Foster decided to land the men on the beach in the lee provided by the concrete structure of the western arm of the disused Corporation Loading Pier. Given the poor state of the three men and the appalling weather conditions, the end of Southend Pier was not considered safe for landing the casualties. Furthermore, Foster was aware of the second vessel having difficulties making shelter and, landing the casualties as early as possible would leave the lifeboat better able to respond if required. Having safely landed the three persons to the waiting Coastguard, the lifeboat made a slow passage back to the station, this time having to negotiate a head sea. At 1150 the lifeboat arrived back at station, was recovered and ready for service again at 1210.

Throughout the service, weather conditions continued to deteriorate. Rain and breaking waves with spray being driven horizontally hampered visibility considerably. The flood tide, forecast at 6m, was a full metre above prediction. The severe conditions had caused cars to be abandoned on the seaf ront and the wind and swell had driven both pleasure and commercial craft from their moorings onto the sea wall.

At approximately 1230 the Lady Jane succumbed to the conditions and sank.ThtUftboat Atlanta 21 B567 Percy Garron II ThiCrtw Helmsman John Foster Crew Member Michael Whistler Crew Member Ian Rees.