First ever bravery award for an RNLI lifeguard Mark Johnson made RNLI history in December when he was awarded the Thanks on Vellum after saving the life of a man who was being washed out to sea. Mark is the first RNLI beach lifeguard to receive such an honour. Fellow lifeguard Alan Wheeler received a Letter of Thanks from the RNLI's Chief Executive.

Mark and Alan were patrolling Mawgan Porth beach in Newquay on the afternoon of Wednesday, 8 August 2001 when they spotted three people in difficulties. The bathers were caught in a rip currentand were drifting out to sea, north of the beach's bathing zone.

Despite the clear, sunny weather the sea was dangerous with high surf. Mark and Alan became concerned for the safety of the bathers, who were now 150m from the shore, and immediately paddled out on rescue boards to warn them to return.

'My first thoughts were to get them in as fast as I could' said Mark. 'I didn't have time to think really.' The lifeguards reached the bathers, a few minutes later and realised that the two children, who were on body boards, could not get back to shore without help. Alan reassured the children and told them whatto do as he pushed and towed them safely back to the beach. This was an unusually tricky and physically demanding task because of the surf conditions and the state of children - one of whom was particularly frightened.

Meanwhile, Mark had paddled over to a casualty who was desperately trying to swim back to shore.

The man, who was not wearing a wetsuit and did not have a surfboard, collapsed with exhaustion on Mark's rescue board. By now larger seas were breaking but smaller waves were creating lulls in the surf. When Mark tried to pull the man further on to the board they were hit by a large wave - washing the board and the casualty away.

After the wave had passed Mark had trouble finding the man until he noticed a dark shapebeneath the surface. He dived down to grab the casualty and, after a struggle, managed to bring him to the surface. Luckily, the man was still breathing.

'He was in a very poor state when I reached him' remembered Mark. 'I thought, at one stage, he was going to give up the struggle to stay afloat.' With the rescue board now gone, Mark had to use a rescue technique known as free swimming to tow the man in. 1 was confident I could get the casualty in' he said. 'My mam concern was whether he would remain conscious until I got him to the beach. When I was towing him he was semiconscious.' By this time, Alan had safely delivered to two children back to shore and was paddling back out through the surf to help Mark and the casualty on the final part of their journey. When they had got the man back to the beach he was still breathing but suffering from shock. 'We were all very relieved when the three casualties were safely back on the beach' said Mark.

The lifeguards assessed the man's condition and gave him first aid before he was evacuated tohospital by Cornwall Air Ambulance.

'I felt elated, we all did. It was a great team effort' said Mark. 'A few days later the man returned to the beach with a letter of thanks and a crate of beer for the lifeguard team.' George Rawlinson, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south.division, said 'The whole incident was demanding and testing due to the heavy surf conditions. Both lifeguards had to call on all their professional and physical training. Mark showed particular strength and determination in saving the casualty, especially as he had become seperated from his rescue board. Alan offered exemplary assistance to the two children in a challenging and potentially life-threatening situation.'Continuing a long tradition It is worth remembering that the first Gold Medal ever presented by the RNLI was for a beach rescue.

The incident took place on 8 March 1824, just four days after the founding of the Institution.

The Swedish brig Carl Jean, bound from Alicante to Gefle and laden with salt and casks of wine, was seen to be in difficulties broadside on to the shore at Whitepit, near Christchurch, Hampshire. Commander Charles Fremantle RN, employed by HM Coastguard at Lymington, was the first to react to her plight, when he plunged into the surf with a line around him. The ship, her mainmast over the side, was in imminent danger of breaking up as her hull pounded the bottom.

The intrepid commander swam to the wreck and managed to get her boats cut clear, only to see them immediately filled by the heavy seas. Unable to persuade the brig's crew to act on any of his other suggested means of rescue, he re-entered the water and was hauled back to the shore by the line, arriving exhausted and unconscious on the beach. When the ship began to break up, her crew were fortunate enough to reach shore using the fallen mainmast.

Many other beach-based rescues have taken place throughout the 178-year history of the RNLI and it is only fitting that beach lifeguards now formally take their place in the Institution alongside lifeboatmen and women. Mark Johnston has become the first beach rescue lifeguard to receive an award from the RNLI but he will certainly not be the last.THE LIFEGUARDS Thanks on Vellum Lifeguard Mirk John ion lor his 'courage, determination in heavy surf conditions ar>d professional efficiency ' Chiel Executive's LeTter of Thanks Lifeguard Alan Wheeler for tus 'courage, determination in heavy surf conditions and for the assistance ha ottered to ensure a successful outcome to the rescue.'.