Drifting out to sea, Helen Hunt thought her time was up Sandra and Helen Hunt, two women from Birmingham, were on holiday at Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire on 1 September 2005. They were enjoying playing on their inflatable dinghies, until they started to slowly but surely move further and further from the shore. Caught in a strong current they drifted for 10 minutes until a member of the Mablethorpe lifeboat crew spotted them from the window of the lifeboat station. The D class lifeboat Patrick RexMoren quickly went to their aid. They later regretted not thanking the Mablethorpe crew and Coastguard properly when they'd been cold and in shock, so Helen wrote:'We were staying at Golden Sands on holiday. One of my brothers, my mum and I went into the sea with our dinghies. We'd been in and out of the sea all week, but we did feel something was different with the sea that day. It was a tot calmer; not a lot of waves.

'We hadn't been in the water long when noticed I couldn't control where I was going, so I shouted to my mum not to leave me. When she paddled over and my brother headed back to shore, I thought everything would be OK.

None of us realised the trouble we'd soon be in.

'We noticed that we were going further out. No matter how hard we tried, we just could not get to shore. I was terrified; I felt so useless. We tried shouting to my brother but he could not hear us. He saw us and swam towards us, but we could see that he, too, was struggling. That's when I think he realised we needed help, so he got out and ran.

'My mum kept repeating that as long as we can see the shore, we'll be OK, but I was hysterical and couldn't calm down. I knew my mum was trying to be brave and not scare me. She got out of her dinghy in the hope that she could pull me along, but she soon became very weak and cold. I really thought our time was up.

'Then we heard a rocket. My mum said they're going to come, but I did not want to get my hopes up. Then I turned around and saw the orange lifeboat and it was only then that I calmed down.

Everyone involved from Mablethorpe station was so lovely. I have never met-such a caring bunch. I will never forget what they did for us. We are here today because of them. They will always have a place in my heart.

'I've learned my lesson. The sea may be fun, but only if I'm careful.

Danger is not always seen by the eye. If, for one second, you feel a little unsure, take a step back and don't move on anymore.

Don't let the sea take your life.' Helen Hunt.