Bare knuckle fight When Adrian, Duncan and Craig decided to enter a stretch of notoriously treacherous water, they knew they were risking their own lives It was Sam on Sunday 16 October 2005 when the Coastguard called Bridlington lifeboat station to search for two swimmers, missing off the north promenade. Benign as it sounded, Helmsman Adrian Trower knew that the area known as the Knuckle was not to be entered tightly. The combined effect of the promenade and the north pier is a maelstrom of reflected waves so hazardous that lifeboats are only to enter in the event of a real threat to life. 'It's nasty in there', explains Adrian. 'An inshore lifeboat actually capsized there a few years ago.' Now, the conditions were, in Adrian's word, 'horrific' even at the water's edge.

The D class Lord Feoffees III launched into crashing waves with Adrian at the helm and Crew Members Duncan Stewart and relative newcomer Craig Akid. All were aware of the danger ahead.

Despite the hour, the area was well lit by the pier's amusement park and the Moon. Adrian rounded the end of the north pier sounding the lifeboat's horn to warn the many night anglers to raise their lines.

Then he headed in toward the promenade - and the Knuckle. He and his crew scanned the water for signs of the swimmers.

Seeing nothing, they made the run from the corner of the pier to the Knuckle and back four or five times. Throughout, they battled steep and unpredictable waves. The three volunteers worked together to ensure the lifeboat's stability, each of them maintaining constanti vigilance. At the same time, the Coastguard shore team and the police were searching the promenade and pier.

Adrian reluctantly decided to take the lifeboat back beyond the worst of the confused seas so he could assess the situation in relative calm. The extra sea room also allowed him to increase speed and clear the lifeboat of some of the water that had filled her. With breaking waves coming from two directions at once the risk of capsizing had been high. 'Without a positive sighting, I didn't want to put my life and those of my crew in danger any longer.' On shore, the police found the first casualty, safe and well but concerned for his companion. A pile of clothes on the promenade indicated a likely position and a whistle soon came from a fisherman ashore to confirm a sighting - along the wall, right in the Knuckle. Adrian made a couple of short runs in and back in an attempt to get a sighting himself. The lifeboat required skilful handling between the random wave peaks and he felt that capsize was possible at any time. Suddenly, close to the wall, there was the swimmer.

But he was barely visible - only the top of his head was above water.

Adrian somehow slid the boat between the wall and the casualty to keep him from being smashed against it and Duncan grabbed the man's arm. At that moment, a wave swept into them, caught the man and pushed him under the lifeboat. Showing remarkable presence of mind, Adrian immediately lifted the engine to save running the casualty over with the propeller.

Astonishingly, Duncan followed the man into the heaving water - an act of enormous courage. He had lost sight of him, however, and he and his colleagues were now in extreme danger. Back wash was once again filling the lifeboat with water and Adrian knew they only had seconds before they would have to retreat.

As Duncan struggled back onboard, the casualty reappeared 2m from the lifeboat.

Adrian dropped the engine and manoeuvred hard. As soon as they were alongside, Duncan and Craig hauled the casualty onboard. He was unconscious and clearly in need of emergency medical attention. How long had he been in the water? All they could do for now was keep his head above the water in the boat and his airway clear.

Drawing on every ounce of his training, experience and local knowledge, Adrian charged Lord Feoffees III out of the danger area, clearing her of water in the process.

Running to a small area of clear beach, he made an emergency landing. Craig stayed with the lifeboat while Adrian and Duncan rushed the casualty up the beach and started to attempt resuscitation. The Coastguard and police arrived with the news that no ambulance would be able to attend for up to 30 minutes. The two crew members persevered in their arduous task until an ambulance did arrive.

Later, it was with enormous sadness and disappointment that the crew heard of the man's death. RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector for the North Adrian Carey says: 'I applaud their determination to save the man. They acted in the true spirit of the Institution, holding on to hope until the very last.' The gruelling night was not over, however. Back on the beach, the conditions for relaunch were appalling. Craig hadfought to keep the lifeboat safe and his Helmsman commends him on a difficult job well done. Adrian Trower recalls: 'When we got back to her at the water's edge, the lifeboat was being thrown about like rag doll.'With the arrival of the station's tractor and trailer, an attempt was made to recover the lifeboat there and then but this proved impossible in the soft sand.

There was no choice but to head back out to sea. Even with expert support from the station's shorehelpers to hold the lifeboat head to sea, it took several attempts to launch successfully. Despite all that had happened, the crew made it back to the lifeboat station just over an hour after their initial launch.

Following what was such a demanding incident and Craig's first serious shout, Adrian admits: 'There was no sleep for anyone that night so, the following day, we all met at my house for a debriefing.' It was only later that Adrian realised he knew the casualty's family.

Helmsman Adrian Trower is awarded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for his leadership and determination in dangerous and difficultcircumstances. For their part in the service, Crew Members Duncan Stewart and Craig Akid each receive a Letter of Appreciation signed by the RNLI's Chief Executive along with Vellum Service Certificates.

Asked about his award, Adrian Trower says: 'I was shocked and over the moon.

I had to come to the station to see what a Vellum looks like in the flesh! I never expect to receive anything but it's great - a real achievement. It's for the whole station, we're all in the same team.' Adrian Carey comments: 'Although this was a relatively short service, it was carried out in dark and demanding conditions, and in an area known to be hazardous for inshore lifeboats. Adrian showed great judgement and leadership in trying to ensure the three could do their utmost to save the swimmer.'.