Split-second timing When the St Davids D class lifeboat launched in the afternoon of 21 March 2002, the crew of two knew the race was on to reach the surfers in trouble at Newgale beach. With 9 miles to travel, the crew had to take the quickest route possible as the surfers couldn't hold on foreverInitially Mechanic Michael Phillips took the hetm with Neil Thomas as crew on the Saint David-Dewi Sam.

They predicted that the 9 miles would take at least 25 minutes. They knew seconds could mean the difference between life and death for the two surfers at Newgale beach, and there were also reports of another missing surfer. The lifeboatmen chose the shortest, fastest route, which made for an extremely uncomfortable ride as there was a large choppy swell, with waves of up to 2.5m.

Despite launching a few minutes after the Tyne lifeboat Garside, the D class soon overtook the larger vessel. After 25 minutes, they spotted Newgale beach. Here Neil took the helm because of his experience of working in surf as a qualified lifeguard.

The two surfers were soon located and Neil made one pass through the surf to assess the situation. The man and woman were clinging to a surf board, trapped in a back eddy 100m from the beach in 2m surf. They were unable to reach the beach and the woman was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Garside reached the scene soon after the D class lifeboat, but the crew of the all-weather lifeboat could only observe, as the waters were too shallow for them to help directly.With a real danger of capsizing in the surf, Neil judged that it would take too long to pick up both casualties together.

Timing was crucial. Neilwaited for a brief lull in the waves, ran in from the northwest and Michael quickly recovered the semiconscious woman. Meanwhile a large set of waves was building. Before the three of them were engulfed by waves, the lifeboatmen reached the beach, where the casualty was passed on to awaiting paramedics and Broad Haven Coastguard team. Afterwards, Neil commented: The relief of getting the young lady aboard before the surf swallowed us up was enormous.'During the rescue of the woman, a second man paddled out from the beach on his board to assist the other surfer, but he too got into trouble. The lifeboat relaunched to rescue the second and third casualties, but was filling with water from the surf. Michael and Neil recovered both the original casualty and the second man and his board. The D class held up well with a full quota of people and a great deal of water and it reached the beach safely. The surfers were taken to hospital, but all made a full recovery.

Within 10 minutes of arriving on the scene, the lifeboatmen had saved three surfers. The crew were relieved to find out that the initial report of another missing surfer was incorrect and the search for the lost board was abandoned due to surf conditions.

The two St Davids lifeboats returned to the station together, arriving at 6.05pm after a rather more comfortable journey home.

In recognition of his actions on this service, Michael Phillips received a letter from Operations Director Michael Vlasto, who pointed out that the mechanic was officially on leave at the time, which made his actions: 'all the more noteworthy'. Peter Nicholson, the RNLI chairman, thanked Neil Thomas in a letter for his 'fine assessment of the situation' and his 'skilful boat handling in the surf',THE LIFEBOAT D class D-543 Saint David Dtwi Saitt Funding: From members of Rotary International District 1070 THE CREW Helmsman Neil Thomas Mechanic Michael Phillips ST DAVIDS LIFEBOAT STATION Established 1869 Previous medals 7 silver and 9 bronze THE CASUALTY Three surfers THECONDmONS Weather. Partly cloudy Visibility: Good Wind: WSW Forea 5 Sea State Modorate/choppy.