Stranded horses towed to safetyFour horses were spotted without riders on the East Winner Bank just off the west end of Hayling Island, Hampshire in July 2003. With dusk approaching and a rising tide, there was concern for the safety of both the riders and horses, so the Hayling Island lifeboats were called to assist The horse riders had stayed out on the sand bank for too long following low water on 16 July. As the Atlantic 75 Betty Battle neared the East Winner Bank the crew were pleased to hear from the Coastguard that all the riders were safely ashore. However, the four thoroughbred horses were still in danger, stranded on the sand bank. The Hayling Island relief D class lifeboatyofin Edmunds launched to assist.

One of the horses was spotted quickly, standing calmly on the bank. In the fading light Helmsman Paul Lewis entered the water, took the bridle, and walked and swam the horse ashore in the slight sea state to the awaiting Coastguard, fire service and vet.

The lifeboat crew used flares and torches to find two more horses. The Atlantic 75 concentrated on getting one at a time to safety. When it became too shallow for the lifeboat, Crew Member Colin Parke entered knee-deep water to try to guide the horse to shore.

The D class arrived to take over from the Betty Battte in the shallows while she searched for the third horse. Every time the D class got close to the second horse to herd it to shore, the animal turned sharply away. So in a daring manoeuvre - one that definitely hadn't been practised in training sessions - the helmsman drove the D class up onto the horse's rump, which was awash. Paul Lewis leapt onto the horse's back and Crew Member Anthony Green grabbed the horse's reins and led it to shore from on board the D class.

The D class then went back to search for the third horse, which was spotted about a mile offshore on the bank. Three crew members made valiant attempts to catch the horse on foot on the mile-long bank. After some time, the skittish horse was herded into deeper water where it stood still long enough for the helmsman to manoeuvre the D class onto the horse's rump. Paul climbed onto the horse, attached a rope and bridle and the lifeboat towed the horse towards the shore, stem-first, to keep the propeller as far away as possible from the horse.

In the deeper water between the sand bank and shore, the horse was in danger of drowning, so Paul dismounted, inflated his lifejacket and supported the horse's head. The slight sea state and the sheer weight of the horse's neck and head meant that Paul swallowed a lot of water. He also suffered considerable bruising to his legs from the scared horse but he held on tight to save the animal.

The Atlantic 75 borrowed the fire service's thermal imaging equipment to search for the last horse. Sadly, the horse was found dead and the body was towed ashore.

The lifeboats and the shore helpers returned to station after a three-hour service, pleased that they had saved three horses from this fate.

Their courage has since been recognised by the RSPCA.They were all presented with the RSPCA's Certificate of Merit at a ceremony at the station on 8 February 2004.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Nigel Roper praised the effective teamwork of the two lifeboats and the 'selfless actions' of Paul Lewis in particular. Sue Simms, one of the owners, said: 'The crew are complete heroes.

They saved three of our horses. We are absolutely delighted that their heroism has been recognised in this way and we will be eternally grateful for what they did on that night.'.