With enormous surf breaking violently around them, how could two hypothermic men possibly escape their rocky prison?

Whipsiderry Bay is one of Cornwall’s ‘hidden gems’ that sees surfers catching waves all year round. So it was little surprise that two boarders decided to go there one chilly January day. What they didn’t expect to see were two people, dressed in vests and shorts, stranded on rocks at nearby Fern Cove.

These men, originally out for a run, had been trapped for 2 hours and, with an air temperature of just above freezing, were suffering seriously from the cold. The surfers agreed to separate, one heading ashore to raise the alarm, the other, Craig Sommerville, heading into the cove to help.

Coastguards received the 999 call at 12.42pm and requested the launch of RNLI Newquay’s D class lifeboat, Valerie Wilson. She took to the water just 10 minutes later, under the command of Helmsman Mark ‘Magnum’ Morris who was joined by Crew Members Aaron Trebilcock and Richard ‘Rouge’ Martin.

Mark remembers thinking: ‘I hope they’re not where I think they are …’ He knew the area well and that there was no easy way in or out. But the men were exactly where he had feared. To make matters worse, a powerful swell was combining with a tide just 2 hours from high water. This was churning up a cycle of 3m surf that was breaking fiercely.

Craig had managed to guide the men to a slightly safer position where the lifeboat crew quickly spotted them. Expertly placing the D class on the back of a wave, Mark steered towards them to get a better view. ‘We managed to get within about 100m,’ he says. ‘But the danger to my boat and crew became obvious. There were rocks coming out of the surf everywhere.’

Meanwhile, the local Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team had established itself at the top of the cliff. Now it radioed down a warning about an approaching set of waves. Mark spun the lifeboat to face what was coming. The Valerie Wilson punched through all 12 waves, many of which completely swamped her, before she could get clear of the danger zone. Back onshore and hearing the radio conversations, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Gareth Horner authorised the launch of B class Atlantic 85 Gladys Mildred in support.

Undeterred, Mark carefully timed another approach. He skilfully threaded the lifeboat through rocks to an area of relative safety, 20m from the casualties. He reassessed the situation: the rocks were backed by 70m cliffs and the sea was treacherous. ‘I thought a helicopter lift was the safest option, he says. ‘So I shouted over to the casualties to “stay fast” while I radioed through.’

It was then that things took a turn for the worse. Assuming the lifeboat could get no closer, Craig and the casualties jumped into a gully, intending to swim out to meet her. But, weak from their ordeal and with lacerations to their legs, the two runners were now literally out of their depth and in serious trouble. Crew Member Aaron Trebilcock remembers the scene well:

‘They were in grave danger. I knew that if we didn’t get to them quickly, we would be dealing with bodies.’ ‘This really upped the ante,’ says Mark. ‘We had to take immediate action.’ He took the lifeboat back and around to the mouth of the cove, about 30m from the casualties, and all three volunteers climbed out. The final leg of their journey was completely inaccessible by lifeboat and the casualties needed help through the hazardous rocks. Aaron made for them while Mark and Richard held the 436kg lifeboat. One minute they were waist deep in water, the next being knocked off their feet while holding the lurching craft. Swimming, wading and scrabbling over rocks, Aaron reached the casualties who were both exhausted and suffering from hypothermia. He fought his way back to the lifeboat with one man at a time, carrying and pushing them around the hidden hazards en route. ‘They’d both gone stiff and were in quite a bad way,’ he says.

Once crew and casualties were all safely aboard, Mark took the lifeboat back through the surf. ‘Under normal circumstances we’d wait for a lull,’ says Mark. ‘But we had to get them ashore fast.’ The crew wedged themselves forward to give the casualties best protection from the crashing surf on the ride back.

The first wave broke over them, completely filling the lifeboat. ‘We work in surf a lot but it can be quite scary if you’re not used to it. So we counted the waves with the casualties and kept them chatting.’ Even with five heavy men aboard, the lifeboat handled impeccably. ‘I’d never put her under such pressure before,’ says Mark. ‘But she handled superbly. I remember looking at her bow flicking straight as we came out the other side – just like pinging a ruler!’

The Helmsman expertly guided the lifeboat through a full 21 waves, making best use of the outboard engine. ‘That was a big set,’ he remembers. ‘But I was able to ease off, then power through each one so we didn’t become airborne. Put me in the middle of a busy shipping lane and I’d have a panic on but I’m comfortable reading the surf – it’s what we train in every weekend.’

Clear of the waves at last, the casualties were transferred to the Gladys Mildred for a speedy return to Newquay and a waiting ambulance. It was 1.20pm. Before leaving the scene themselves, the D class crew made sure that Craig was able to return to Whipsiderry Bay safely.

And the outcome? Both runners made a full recovery. ‘It was a great result,’ says Aaron. ‘Training and local knowledge were priceless in this situation and it was great teamwork from everyone involved.’ Mark and Aaron both received the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum while Richard received a Framed Letter of Thanks from the RNLI’s Chairman and Craig a Letter of Appreciation from the RNLI’s Chief Executive.