During the afternoon of Thursday 24 July 2008, Teignmouth’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat The Two Annes launched in dreadful conditions to search for two swimmers, a 15-year-old boy and his father, missing from the beach. A full complement of four volunteers were onboard.

There was an easterly force 5 wind and an ebbing tide that combined to provide steep and unpredictable standing and breaking waves, 2–3m in height. They tossed the RIB about as her crew conducted an extensive search of the beach, pier area and river mouth. This entailed passing back and forth across the Teignmouth Bar four times, a hazardous manoeuvre in any conditions.

It was then that the boy was found on the beach, safe but shaken and confirming that his father was still in the sea. Eventually, with guidance from a Police helicopter, the crew found a man in the water 300m off the pier and in a critical state. Frustrated by the violent seas, and after three attempts to get close enough, Helmsman Humphrey Vince allowed Adam Truhol to enter the water himself to help recover the casualty.

Once dragged onboard the man was unresponsive and not breathing so, in cramped and very bumpy conditions, Charlie Woolnough and Nicola White started resuscitation immediately. Meanwhile, Humphrey took the lifeboat as quickly and as safely as possible back to the station. There, three waiting volunteer crew members took over resuscitation efforts while the lifeboat was recovered. Moving to the boathouse floor, volunteers and two visiting staff continued the attempt, as holiday makers gathered to watch.

Valiantly and relentlessly, they continued until the arrival of paramedics. RNLI, Coastguard and Police personnel joined in carrying the man to the beach for transfer to hospital by Coastguard helicopter. But several hours later, to everyone’s dismay, it was announced that he had died.

Despite the tragic outcome, the volunteers received formal Letters of Thanks and Appreciation, signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive of the RNLI at a local ceremony in February. These recognised their teamwork, professionalism and the collective performance under difficult circumstances. They had acted in the finest traditions of the RNLI.