Cliff-climbing lifeboatman saves boy Lifeboat crews are highly trained in many fields so they will be prepared when out on a shout. But there are a few services where RNLI training cannot help, where it is up to the individual to do something out of the ordinary. In this rescue at Portrush it was rock-climbing skills, initiative and endurance that were needed to save the life of a small boyMechanic Anthony Chambers was working at Portrush lifeboat station, Northern Ireland, when a distressed member of the public rushed in near midday on 9 September 2002.

A young boy was stuck on the cliffs at Ramore Head, balanced precariously on a narrow ledge 10m above sea level Anthony shouted for Helmsman Damian Rohdich who was nearby. They knew that a delay by contacting other lifeboatmen or waiting for the authority to launch could be fatal. As conditions were fine, they launched the D class with just the two crew members.

The crew found the boy easily, four minutes after launching, 200m from the harbour mouth. They reassured the distressed child, 10m above them, and acted quickly.

They landed the D class on shore at the cliff face and secured the lifeboat. There was a risk that the boy might fall before a cliff team reached him. Damian had no experience of rock climbing and is not keen on heights but, with no thought for his own safety, he started the climb.

Wearing the full inshore lifeboat gear made climbing particularly difficult. The toecapped boots meant that Damian could not feel the rocks and there was little grip.

He managed to reach the child and soon realised that it was impossible to move him without the Coastguard cliff team. Anthony called for their assistance. Damian edged his way along the ridge, finally straddling the boy, holding him firmly against the rock face, awaiting the cliff team.

After around 20 minutes a lone Coastguard arrived at the cliff top and began setting up. At this stage Damian started to suffer from cramps in his arms and legs. After 30 minutes the Coastguard lowered a line down to Damian. Single-handedly, with great skill, Damian secured the line to the boy and then to himself. But their ordeal was not over.

Damian recalled: 'Once the line was secured it felt a bit better but we still had to hang onto the cliff.' It took another gruelling 40 minutes before the Coastguard dropped from the cliff top and made a controlled descent with the young boy to the base of the cliff.

Damian held the child securely for 75 minutes in total and remembers that he felt: 'completely exhausted. All strength seemed to drain out of me. Both legs and arms were cramped and my body ached all over.' Despite this, Damian lowered himself down on the securing line and reboarded the lifeboat quickly so that the boy could be transferred ashore as speedily as possible. On the way back to the station, Damian still found the energy to comfort the young boy.

An awaiting ambulance took the child to hospital, where he made a full recovery from shock and mild exposure. Damian too was fine after a rest, although he suffered a little from sore muscles the next day.

Damian is accorded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum for his courage and endurance. Anthony receives a vellum service certificate for his presence of mind, initiative and his assessment of how urgent the situation was. Operations Director Michael Vlasto also sent a letter of thanks to the Coastguard cliff team.THE LIFEBOAT D class lifeboat D-572 Ken and Mary Funding: Donated by the sons and grandchildren of Ken and Mary Stansfield THE CREW Helmsman Damian Rohdich Crew member Anthony Chambers PORTRUSH LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1860 Previous RNLI Medals: Eight Silver and one Bronze THE CASUALTY A young boy stranded on a cliff THE CONDITIONS Weather: Part cloudy Visibility: Excellent Wind: Force 2 Sea state: Calm.