THE LIFEBOAT B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat B-742 Douglas Paley Funding: A gift from Mrs Evelyn Anne Paley, in memory of her late husband Air Commodore Douglas Paley THE CREW Helmsman Gary Stanbury Crew Members Andrew Hallet and Martin Davis LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1825 Previous RNLI Medals: 23 Silver and seven Bronze THE CASUALTY Crew of three on a 4.5m motor boat, Kasam Position: Southern part of the Bideford Bar THE CONDITIONS Weather: Dry, cold Visibility: Dark Wind: South easterly force 2-3 Sea state: 2-3m waves on the Bideford BarAn evening's fishing aboard a motorboat took a grim turn for two men and a teenage boy on the evening of 22 January 2005. The trio were in the darkness near the mouth of the River Taw at Appledore when their vessel, Kasam, suffered engine failure.

Although they had deployed an anchor, the boat was dragged by the ebbing tide out of the River Taw towards the Bideford Bar.

With no radio to alert the Coastguard, the anxious crew fired a red parachute flare. A member of the public onshore spotted the signal and contacted the Coastguard.

Gary Stanbury, a member of the Appledore all weather lifeboat crew and Helmsman of the inshore lifeboat, was watching television at home with his wife when his pager beeped. The Coastguard had requested the launch of the all weather lifeboat and Gary was the first to reach the station. He had a quick discussion with Deputy Launching Authority David Maxwell and Deputy Second Coxswain Owen Atkinson when they arrived soon after.

'When we were told of the Kasam's position we knew the water would be too shallow for the all weather lifeboat and decided to launch the inshore boat first,' said Gary.

Gary launched the B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat Douglas Paley at 7.29pm with Crew Members Andrew Hallet and Martin Davis.

Martin had been enjoying a meal in a local pub when his pager went off. 'I left my girlfriend and half a roast duck behind,' he said. Martin operated the radio aboard the lifeboat, while Andrew navigated and held the searchlight. Five minutes after the launch of the B class, the all weather Tyne class lifeboat George Gibson was launched to provide back up.

Gary and his crew headed for Kasam's last reported position. He could see that the conditions were going to make for a difficult rescue: waves as high as 3m were breaking on the Bideford Bar. He filled the lifeboat's ballast tanks with water to steady her. Martin heard from the Coastguard that the stricken vessel was now being overcome with large breaking waves.

As they reached the Inner Pulley buoy, the lifeboat crew spotted a light shining through the gloom: the searchlight beam of the Kasam. Gary requested that Swansea Coastguard task an RAF search and rescue helicopter from nearby Royal Marine Barracks Chivenor, in case any casualties needed to be airlifted. At first, the Helmsman headed in a south westerlydirection, straight for the motorboat, but he became concerned that he would run the lifeboat aground in the shallow water. He decided to head further out to sea, until he was just north of the Kasam. As he approached, battling against 3m waves, Gary used all his efforts just to keep the lifeboat safe. 'I realised that we would be in danger of capsize if we carried on like that,' remarked Gary. 'If we had capsized there, we would not have been able to right her, because she would have been swept onto the bar.' Concerned for the safety of his crew, Gary aborted this second approach and headed past the motorboat, through an area of confused seas over the South Tail. This allowed him to approach from the west with the waves but, as he prepared to do so, Martin and Andrew voiced their concerns.

The Helmsman was able to calmly reassure the crew that, from his knowledge of the area, the approach could be carried out safely. The all weather lifeboat stood by.

Reading the pattern of the seas, Gary now made towards Kasam's light, riding on the back of a large wave. Suddenly, Martin spotted Kasam's white hull - she was lying sideways to the oncoming seas. The two men on board were trying to bail out the water that was washing over her, while the teenager was sheltering in the cabin.

Gary was particularly dependent on the help of his crew members as he got nearer.

'It really was a three-man job,' he said.

'Between you, you've got to operate the lifeboat, keep an eye on the casualty,navigate, operate the radio and check the depth of water. Andrew was my second pair of eyes, warning us of any big waves that were coming.' Gary skilfully manoeuvred alongside Kasam's starboard side and Martin instructed the crew of the Kasam to prepare to board the lifeboat. Between them, Martin and Andrew helped the first aboard, despite limited visibility. There was some light provided by the two boats, but not much,' said Gary.

The sea conditions prevented the lifeboat from staying alongside. 'If we hadstopped, the lifeboat would have been all over the place in those waves,' Gary pointed out. He powered away from Kasam, swung the lifeboat around, and approached again.

This time Martin and Andrew grabbed the teenager, who had by now emerged from the cabin.

Gary headed to sea again and approached a third time, allowing the skipper of the Kasam to climb aboard. He was reluctant to leave his vessel at the mercy of the Bar, but the lifeboat crew made it clear that lives were at risk - getting everyone to safety was the priority.

'It was far from over,' recalled Gary. 'We had to get back through the surf again, this time with a heavier boat as there were twice as many people aboard.'The lifeboat retraced its route back out to sea away from the South Tail and then into the mouth of the river. During the journey back through the darkness, the rescue helicopter radioed the lifeboat and asked if the teenager, who was showing symptoms of hypothermia and shock, should be winched up. 'I thought it was best not to hang around, so I said "no thank you",' remembered Gary, adding that the lifeboat was not far away from the lifeboat station. However, the helicopter pilot was asked to continue standing by, in case the lifeboat fell foul of the conditions.During the return passage, two large waves broke through the lifeboat, but she emerged intact with all still safely aboard. 'The lifeboat was superb throughout,' said Gary.

Having made it safely through the treacherous waves, the inshore lifeboat reached a calmer area of the channel and arrived at Appledore lifeboat station at 8pm.

The casualties were handed into the care of waiting paramedics, but Kasam did not have such a lucky escape. Appledore's all weather lifeboat crew could find no sign of her later that evening and not a trace has been found since.

'It was the most satisfying inshore rescue I've been involved with. The Bideford Bar is one of the worst bits of coastline in the country,' said Martin, who returned to his girlfriend - and roast duck - after the rescue. 'Gary showed what a good helmsman he is that night,' he added.

Tom Mansell, RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector for the south, said: 'Gary showed determination in not only completing this service but by doing so in as safe a way as possible. He read the seas well, even though it was dark, and his decision to approach the casualty from seaward showed a complete understanding of the situation, which was the crucial factor in saving the lives of the three men.' In recognition of his outstanding seamanship, Gary Stanbury receives The Institution's Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

Crew Members Andrew Hallet and Martin Davis receive Bronze Medal service badges and certificates. Gary says he was delighted to get the award: Tm pleased for everyone involved - Martin and Andrew did really well. It was an excellent team.' See page 37 for another Appledore story - 100 years ago!.