Bronze for selfless braveryOn the same day as the Redcar incident (see page 12] volunteers at Filey too were called upon to save lives.

Particular tidal and weather conditions combined with the local geology to create hidden dangers in the bayDespite facing the North Sea, Filey's beaches are remarkably sheltered, lying between Fiiey Brig and Flamboraugh Head, so they and their caravan parks are a popular holiday destination. On 15 August 2003, a 12-year-old girl ventured into the apparently calm water at one of these beaches, Reighton Sands, and quickly got into trouble. The ground underfoot was being rapidly scooped away by the waves and she was washed off her feet and out to sea. A woman watching from the beach used a neighbour's mobile phone to call the Coastguard and at 1.28pm the D class Rotary District 1120 was launched, with Helmsman Michael 'Pip' Farline and Crew Members Stuart Lane and Francis Speak Jnr on board.

At the launch site of Coble Landing, the sea was slight. Pip warned his crew that conditions would worsen dramatically as soon as the lifeboat was out of the shelter of the Brig so they prepared themselves for a buffeting. Meanwhile, another bystander on the beach had gone into the water to try to rescue the girl and had got into difficulties herself in the tidal currents.

With a mile to go, the casualties were still not visible, the swell having reached 3-4m. An additional hazard now presented itself: the waves had scoured deep troughs in the underlying gravel and sand, throwing up the debris into leys or banks just below the surface of the water.

From the crest of one wave the crew suddenly saw the woman, about 200m away on a bodyboard just inside one bank, and the girl, on the far south eastern end of the same bank, being knocked about by heavy dumping waves - Pip decided that she was the priority for rescue.Pip took the boat in and behind the bank and, at the right moment, turned smartly round, head to sea. Unfortunately, he had to use so much power against the breaking waves that he overshot the casualty. He powered backwards until both he and Francis could ^rab the floundering girl over the starboard side.

Now it was the boat that was vulnerable. Water was pouring in and the nose was lifting violently. Pip said afterwards that this Tioment took them all beyond their experience.Stuart took over holding on to the girl from Francis who, as the heavier man, moved to the bow and leaned over to try to stabilise the boat. The girl was imploring her rescuers not to let her go and, at last, Stuart and Pip were able to lift her in. By this time the water was up to the sponsons.

With the helm having been briefly unattended, the boat became grounded on the bank. Five or six more waves hit the boat directly and Stuart had difficulty keeping hold of the girl, despite wrapping his tegs around her and wedging himself up against the anchor box.

In a brief lull, the boat floated free and Pip regained control, turning and manoeuvring towards the second casualty. The boat was sluggish with the extra weight of water but the woman was eventually reached and successfully hauled in over the port side with her (broken) board.

For a clear run into the beach, Pip wanted to go back out a short distance, turn and catch a wave but, with five people and water on board, they couldn't complete the spin and instead broached on the sea//ard side of the bank.The boat was pushed shoreward, side on but, once back within the bank, the quieter sea allowed Pip to regain control once more and he did make a successful landing at 1.55pm.

The casualties were both shocked but otherwise uninjured and were able to walk up to the waiting Coastguard unit.Almost as soon as they were ashore, the lifeboatmen were informed that a search was underway for the woman who had originally raised the alarm. She had last been seen running towards the sea, having returned the phone she had borrowed.

Stuart said afterwards that: 'The worst thing was looking back to what we'd just come through and knowing that we would now have to go back into it.1 The station's Mersey class Keep Fit Association joined the relaunched ILB and an RAF Sea King helicopter to search beyond the banks. On the way out, the D class was repeatedly stood on end as it crossed the surf line but all returned safely after 2.42pm when it was confirmed that the missing woman had been found on land.

Back at the station Rotary District 1120 was checked for damage but all was in good working order, hull, electrical systems and engine, and the crew had sustained only bruises.

On recommending a Bronze Medal for Pip and Medal Service Certificates for Stuart and Francis, Training Divisional Inspector Robin Warrington said: 'Helmsman Farline's philosophy is selfless. He believes entirely that he should put his own life in danger if the need arises, based on the fact that it could be him in need of help one day. Both crew members commented on his leadership and their confidence in him. All three showed great determination in extreme circumstances - a service for all concerned to be proud of.'THE FILEY INSHORE LIFEBOAT D class lifeboat D-563 Rotary District 1120 Funding: Rotary District 1120 THE CREW Helmsman Michael'Pip' Farline Stuart Lane, Francis Speak Jnr THE FILEY ALL WEATHER LIFEBOAT Carriage-launched Mersey class lifeboat ON-1170 (12-13) Keep Fit Association Funding: The Keep Fit Association Appeal, Filey Lifeboat Appeal, with other gifts and legacies THE CREW Coxswain: Barry Robson Crew members: Neil Cammish, Peter Macauley Mark Johnson, Frances Wilkins Christopher Vernon, Philip Birchall FILEY LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1823 Previous RNLI Medals: One Silver and two Bronze THE CASUALTIES A 12-year-old girl and a woman THE CONDITIONS Weather: Clear skies Visibility: Good Wind: Force 4 northerly Sea state: Slight at shore, rough with 3-4m swell around banks.