It was 5.20pm and an hour from high tide so the beach was almost covered and waves were breaking into the coves beneath the cliffs. For some time now, the lifeguards had been keeping an eye on a large group of surfers. When Ollie’s attuned gaze caught one of the bunch being carried into a rocky cove some 300m from the beach he primed himself for possible action.

As soon as it became clear that the man was struggling to paddle out, Ollie (25) and Barney (39) lost no time getting into their wetsuits. They also called for backup from fellow Lifeguard Dan Lathan at a neighbouring unit. Meanwhile, the surfer moved out of view. The pair sped off into the 1.5m surf on the rescue watercraft (RWC) and Dan, after helping with the launch, took the all-terrain vehicle up onto the cliffs to the best possible observation and communication point above the cove.

Barney manoeuvred the RWC (pictured) to get a clear view of the cove. Surfer Ivor Gallicott had managed to make his way up onto a ledge at the edge of the cliffs. As he stood there his board was being shredded in the unforgiving surf around him. This was no place for the RWC to venture further: the only way to reach Ivor would be for Ollie to swim to him.

Armed with a rescue tube, Ollie fought his way over. He then set about persuading Ivor to jump down so that he could tow him out into deeper water. But the exit was going to be very difficult and dangerous. Ollie signalled to Barney to bring the RWC closer.

Displaying great skill and courage, Barney decided to reverse the RWC in so that Ollie and Ivor could be taken out of the worst of the surf. Miraculously he managed to hold it upright as Ollie hauled Ivor onto the sled and followed behind him, holding him tight as Barney set off through the large surf.

Back on the safety of the beach it was a relief to find that Ivor, though severely shaken by his ordeal, had escaped with only minor cuts to his hands. He had had a lucky escape – the shattered remains of his surfboard, later recovered, told it all.