Surfers saved in lightning rescue dashAs senior helmsman Aubrey Diggle was leaving the boathouse on the morning of 23 February 2002, a surfer reported that two of his colleagues were being swept away. Looking out to sea, Aubrey instantly summed up the situation, and realised that the surfers were indeed in danger, for they were in a known tidal rip that was rapidly taking them out to sea.

Aubrey fired two maroons to summon the lifeboat crew and telephoned the Coastguard. The launch was authorised, with Aubrey at the helm, and Anthony Summers and David Ricketts as crew.

Rip-tide drags surfers out to sea From its sheltered launch site on the northern shore, the Atlantic 75 lifeboat Dorothy Selina surged into the high seas, with breaking waves of up to 4m, although it was initially protected from the full strength of the northwesterly Force 7-8 winds. The surfers were still in the bay but caught in the dangerously powerful rip-tide running along the southern side of the bay. Using his excellent knowledge of the local seas, Aubrey kept to the sheltered northern shore as long as possible, heading for the surfers who were some 100m south of a large outcrop of rocks known as Cod Rocks.

Once the lifeboat left the lee of the rocks, it was exposed to the full brunt of the seas running into the bay. Aubrey steered the boat down sea at first, then turned head to sea to allow the crew to pick up the surfers. They had just got them aboard, but not properly secured, when a large wave, some 2- 3m high, hit the lifeboat. Aubrey instinctively headed into the wave, while the crew used their feet to hold the surfers down.

Lifeboat swamped Applying full power, Aubrey headed as fast as he could for the shelter of Cod Rocks. But just 50m from safety, a steep wave of 3-4m began to break ahead of them. Throttling back, he squared up to it. The bow was completely buried as a huge wave of water swamped the boat, pushing theboat to starboard. Keeping his nerve, Aubrey increased power and turned to port, as the Atlantic surfaced safely- Gaining the shelter of Cod Rocks once more, the lifeboat soon returned to station.

Courage recognised For his courage and exceptional seamanship in safely steering the lifeboat in conditions that were at the limit of its capabilities, senior helmsman Aubrey Diggle received a letter of appreciation from the Chief Executive of the RNLi; while helmsman Anthony Summers and crew member David Ricketts both received letters of commendation from operations director Michael Vlasto for their swift teamwork and commitment.

Although the rescue only lasted 11 minutes, it amply demonstrates the quick thinking that saves lives.THE LIFEBOAT Atlantic 75 lifeboat B-731 Dorothy 5*Jin* Funding A generous gift from Mf Rag Dawe of Hereford THE CREW Senior Helrrisman Aubrey Diggle Crew Members Anthony Summers David Ricketts TREARDDLJR BAY LIFEBOAT STATION Established 1967 Previous Medals. Bronze 19711x21 THE CASUALTY Two surfers THE CONDITIONS Weather Fair Visibility 1/4 mile* Wind NW Force 8 Sea state: High.