RescUe TeaM efforT the Pembrokeshire coast enjoyed a sunny evening on 7 august last year but, under cliffs near newport Bay, a stiff onshore breeze was imperilling the lives of three unprepared teenagers.

elizabeth Paine describes what happened next tHe DetAIL insHORe LiFeBOat D CLass D-652 Team Effort On station: 10 april 2006 Funding: Fishguard boat appeal Crew: Helmsman stephen Done (44, furniture maker) Joanne Boughton, (36, GP and musician) Robert Lanham (28, local port operative) aLL-WeatHeR LiFeBOat tRent CLass On-1198 (14-03) Blue Peter VII On station: 2 september 1994 Funding: funded by viewers of BBC tV’s Blue Peter Crew: Coxswain Paul Butler (46), mechanic stephen Phillips, second Coxswain Christopher Bean, simon Cookson, Wyn Griffiths, Peter Hughes, andrew nicholls, Paul Potter Local boys James thomas, michael Richards and thomas Bendell were enjoying picking their way around the rocky coastline east of Fishguard, walking, jumping, even climbing when necessary. they were seeing how far they could get just using their own physical skill and no special equipment, inspired by the adventure sport of coasteering. Clambering down towards a small bay, just west of Cat Rock, they found themselves on a ledge. they were horribly close to the chaotic water and the tide was rising – they had no way out.

thankfully, they were spotted. Following a 999 call, at 6.31pm the Coastguard requested assistance from the volunteers at Fishguard lifeboat station. Just 11 minutes later the inshore lifeboat Team Effort launched.

While the D class was ideal for work in shallow waters, conditions were stretching its capabilities, so Fishguard’s all-weather Blue Peter VII escorted the inflatable. Once in open sea, the powerful trent class took the lead so the smaller craft could shelter in her slipstream. even so, as the two vessels approached Dinas Head the waves grew so powerful that it took all of Helmsman steve Done’s skill to keep his crew members from being thrown overboard.

arriving on scene at 7pm they began a shoreline search. With the help of a Coastguard cliff rescue team that had also arrived, the boys were finally spotted sheltering behind a small ridge – visible only from the extra height of the trent’s upper steering position.

But between the boys and their rescuers lay a nightmare of broken rocks through which backwash from the cliffs slammed into the opposing 2m waves. the resultant turmoil promised to swamp the D class.

With the cliff rescue team now atop the cliff, Coxswain Paul Butler ordered his crews to stand off – the land-based team had the better chance of success. meanwhile, steve was familiarising himself with the complex wave patterns and, with Paul’s agreement, warily re-entered the bay. time after time steve let the surging waves drive the little boat backwards into the bay, using short bursts on the engine to keep her bow forward and avoid submerged rocks. several times, larger wave sets loomed and the lifeboat had to get out fast, only to try once more.

it was now evident that, while thomas was nearer the cliff base and reachable by the Coastguard team, James and michael were more dangerously exposed. an RaF helicopter was still 20 minutes away and, with the seas breaking ever closer to the trapped teenagers, steve knew that time was running out. He radioed Blue Peter VII saying he could reach the remaining two.

manoeuvring once again into the bay, the lifeboat found a little protection behind the same ledge that was sheltering the pair.

they moved towards the boat with relief but passing swells forced her to retreat twice before, without warning, a back-swell picked up the boat and dropped her on the rock ledge. seizing the moment, Crew members Jo Boughton and Robert Lanham grabbed the boys aboard, just before another swell refloated the lifeboat – at which steve took his chance to speedily power clear.

the rescued teenagers, while unhurt, felt frozen. as the two lifeboats met back up, Jo transferred with them to the trent to help deal with their mild hypothermia. One of Blue Peter VII’s crew swapped to Team Effort to provide more stability and both lifeboats returned through the rough seas to a safe landing – and some very relieved parents.

stephen Done’s exceptional seamanship and courage that day has earned him the thanks of the institution inscribed on Vellum. He remembers: ‘Despite the conditions, it never entered my head for a moment that we wouldn’t be able to rescue them – it’s what we’re trained to do. When you’re in situations like that, the training kicks in and you never think twice about going in. i don’t think [the boys] realised how dangerous a situation they were in.

they were shivering and obviously very relieved to see us.’ Joanne Boughton and Robert Lanham are awarded Chairman’s Framed Letters of thanks for their bravery and team working; Paul Butler’s effective command receives an Operations Director’s Letter of appreciation. ‘Despite the conditions, it never entered my head for a moment that we wouldn’t be able to rescue them – it’s what we’re trained to do.’ .