St Agnes Senior Helmsman Gavin Forehead was expecting a routine exercise when he launched with his crew on 16 October 2005 but when they returned just over an hour later, they had saved two livesGavin, Helmsman Rory Bushe, Crew Member James Watkins and two probationary crew members launched on exercise from Trevaunance Cove at 2.05pm. Rain showers made for poor visibility and there was 1m surf breaking near the shore. Rory was operating the lifeboat radio and established communications with Falmouth Coastguard, expecting to be informed what time the RNAS Culdrose helicopter would be arriving to join the exercise.

Instead, the crew were told to standby: the Coastguard was receiving a 999 call about an incident in the St Agnes area.

Moments later, an urgent message came over the radio: 'Chapel Porth, immediate.' A fisherman on shore, Barry Garland, had seen surfers being washed south around the headland. Barry, a former St Agnes Crew Member, phoned the Coastguard.

Gavin took the lifeboat back to the shore and dropped off the two probationary crew members. 'In a rescue you ideally want just three crew on a D class. Rory and James stayed aboard, as they are both experienced,' explains Gavin.

With Gavin at the helm, the crew headed for Chapel Porth at full speed. Gavin passed skilfully between rocks off St Agnes Head known as the Crams. 'It is a very narrow passage between the rocks and you need to judge the swells and tide just right to get through,' Gavin points out. 'It probably saved us a good minute and a half.' As the crew approached Chapel Porth they found the surf was much larger than on the north side of St Agnes Head. They saw a group of surfers in the sea to the south of the cove who were shouting and waving.

'I knew one of the surfers,' remembers Gavin, 'and he was pointing to a cave and shouting "In there, Gavin, in there!"' The large waves had created a strong rip tide on the south side of the cove, which pushed two surfers (a 12-year-old girl and a man) and their boards towards Horseshoe Cave. Two other surfers, Tom Roberson and Jamie Kent, had seen the pair in trouble and paddled towards them.

'I used my first approach to assess the scene,' says Gavin. 'I could see the girl and man hanging on to the cliff face near the cave. He was being battered by the waves and was clinging on to both the girl and the rock for dear life while also trying to detach their surfboard leashes.'As Gavin completed his run past the casualties, the girl slipped into the water. A large wave washed her into the cave, around a corner and out of sight.

'I wanted us to go in straight away but, looking back, I'm so glad that Gavin assessed things first,' says James. While Gavin dealt with a large set of waves, Tom and Jamie swam into the cave with the man, in search of the girl. The two experienced surfers helped both casualties, who were very weak by now, out of thewater and onto the top of a large rock. As Gavin prepared to make a second approach towards the cave he could just make out all four people on the rock.

'I didn't want to take the lifeboat in because there were so many risks,' says Gavin. 'If we'd capsized or damaged the propeller on the rocks below the surface, we'd all be stuck in there with a lifeboat that weighs nearly a tonne being thrown around in a tight space.' He was considering his options when he suddenly realised that he had a chance to enter the cave relatively safely. There was a lull between the sets of waves and I decided to go in. As I headed down sea we were going full speed and the engine was screaming.' Displaying excellent seamanship, Gavin spun the boat around 180° as he reached the cave entrance and applied the power again for a short time.

He had successfully positioned the lifeboat 1m from the rock, facing out to sea. 'I just remember seeing mussels everywhere and 2m waves,' says Gavin.

Gavin told the girl to jump. But as she did so, she missed the lifeboat and disappeared beneath the water. Rory and James reached over the side and pulled her aboard with the help of the male casualty, who had jumped in after her. He told the lifeboat crew to take her to safety, but Gavin was not keen on leaving him behind.

'It was very dangerous in there and he could be an extra pair of hands to hold onto the girl while we concentrated on getting clear,' Gavin says. Rory and James helped the second casualty aboard.

Now it was Tom and Jamie who encouraged the crew to leave before the next set of waves swept in. Gavin powered the lifeboat out of the cave. Although he was keen to get the casualties to safety, the helmsman was still concerned about the two surfers and made a return pass at the entrance of the cave. He saw Tom and Jamie beginning to make their way out and they indicated that they were 'okay'.

Gavin planned to head to Chapel Porth, but a large barrelling wave could be seen surging towards the lifeboat. He headed towards an area of deeper water under the cliffs to the south of the cave, hoping that the wave would break on a sandbar before reaching the lifeboat but it continued towards the cliff and started to break.

Gavin turned hard to starboard and Rory and James leant as far forward as they could to prevent the lifeboat's bow lifting too far. A wall of white water hit the lifeboat but, thanks to the crew's expert handling, they safely negotiated the wave.

Rory contacted the Coastguard to request medical assistance as the young girl was showing symptoms of shock and the crew were concerned she might have inhaled water. At 2.40pm, 23 minutes after the service began, the lifeboat landed the casualties at Chapel Porth beach where a Coastguard team was waiting. Within ten minutes, the RNAS Culdrose rescue helicopter landed nearby and took them to hospital.

While the casualties were being assessed for injury, the lifeboat crew relaunched and returned to the cave to check on the two surfers' progress. Tom had successfully paddled clear of the breaking waves but Jamie, using one of the casualties' surfboards, was still paddling near the cave and was looking tired. The crew pulled him and the surfboard aboard and, at his request, returned him to one of the surfer groups.

After making sure all the other surfers could reach the shore safely if they needed to, Gavin headed out to sea through another set of large breaking waves. The third wave threw Crew Member James Watkins backwards, leaving him winded and slightlyshocked. His fall had bent the tiller arm and the lifeboat made slow speed back to the station, arriving at 3.17pm. They recovered the lifeboat and made a 'much needed cup of tea.' RNLI Training Divisional Inspector Howard Ramm says:'Helmsman Forehead's actions were truly representative of a helmsman completely in control of the situation.

His appreciation of the risks to his own crew, balanced against the changing situation, allowed him to make some excellent decisions.' Helmsman Gavin Forehead (29) is to receive the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry at the Annual Presentation of Awards in May, in recognition of his excellent decision making, dynamic risk assessment, outstanding boat handling and overall command, while Helmsman Rory Bushe (22) and Crew Member James Watkins (20) each receive the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for their part in the rescue. Surfers Tom Roberson and Jamie Kent also receive Vellum awards for their selflessness and courage. (See page 2 for another 'thank you'.) Chy Start-Walter, the 12-year-old girl rescued by the St Agnes crew was quick to thank Gavin, Rory and James for their lifesaving work.

'I didn't think the lifeboat was going to be able get in to the cave,' remembers Chy. 'I thought I was going to die because the cave was full up with water - I'm very thankful to the lifeboat crew.' Hearing that he was to receive the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry, Gavin felt extremely proud.

'I was really pleased,' he says. 'It is a great achievement for the station as a whole. We cannot get out there in the first place without the shore crew and the people who keep the engine in top condition.' Chy's mother Sharon says: 'When I thanked Gavin, he was so modest. He just said "That's okay, it's what we do".

In my opinion benevolence, bravery and modesty are marks of a true hero, so it is highly appropriate that the crew should be rewarded like this.'THE INSHORE LIFEBOAT D class D-641 Blue Peter IV Funding: Proceeds from Blue Peter TV appeal 1994 THE CREW Senior Helmsman Gavin Forehead, Helmsman Rory Bushe, Crew Member James Watkins ST ACNES LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1968 Previous RNLI Medals: One Silver THE CASUALTIES A man and a 12-year-old girl THE CONDITIONS Weather: Rain showers Visibility: Moderate to poor Wind: Force 1-2 Sea state: 2m surf, rapidly flooding tide.