As we turned back our clocks at the end of October, many of us braced ourselves for the arrival of St Jude: a storm named after the patron saint of desperate cases

It was expected to be the worst storm in 15 years. Volunteer lifeboat crews around the coast waited for the call as violent winds battered the south of England before moving across northern Europe.

Our lifeboats launched 32 times that weekend and continued to respond to calls for help in the early hours of 28 October as the storm hit its peak. Our Flood Rescue Teams were also on standby to help people at risk in flooded areas.

In East Sussex, Newhaven's Severn class all–weather lifeboat was the focus of national media coverage when the crew launched to search for a teenage boy who was washed out to sea. The lifeboat battled large waves (pictured) and a huge backwash during the 6-hour search, assisted by local Coastguard teams on the beaches and Coastguard helicopter. Despite every effort, the 14-year-old boy was not found.

In Anglesey, a man was found clinging to a rope in the harbour in the early hours. Holyhead inshore lifeboat crew went to his aid after his cries for help had been heard by locals.

On the same day, two surfers were rescued at Pentewan Sands by Fowey’s Trent class all-weather lifeboat at around 4.30pm after getting into difficulty in rough seas north of Mevagissey in Cornwall.

In Dorset, crew searched for a photographer feared to have fallen from the Cobb harbour in Lyme Regis during high winds on Saturday night. After a widespread search, both ashore and at sea in 5m waves, no one was found so the search was called off.

The rough weather of Sunday 27 October also gave our crews an opportunity to train in difficult conditions. Several stations were tasked mid-exercise, including Poole in Dorset and Dart in Devon.

Poole’s all-weather and inshore lifeboat crews worked together to rescue two men from an 8m yacht that had heeled over and run aground. The vessel was successfully brought afloat after much effort. Dart’s inshore lifeboat crew also rescued two yachtsmen trapped up river in approaching storm conditions.

Other stations called out that weekend included Bridlington, Cowes, Dunbar, Eastbourne, Fraserburgh, Kessock, Penarth, Port Isaac, Teddington and Whitstable.

For footage of Newhaven lifeboat's search, visit: http://bit.ly/16CNqx6.