Two Burnham-On-Sea RNLI crew have this week received personal letters of commendation from RNLI Chief Executive Paul Boissier for their part in the rescue of two girls in an incident last July.
The girls were spotted desperately clinging onto the chains at the end of the jetty with sea water flowing in around them, as pictured here, with the risk that they would be swept upstream by the incoming tide.
Realising the urgency of the situation, helmsman Nick Edrich had left the lifeboat station on foot, arriving as one of the girls released her grip on the chains.
Nick sprinted the last 150 yards to the water’s edge wearing a dry-suit and lifejacket, and entered the water, swimming to the girl before being assisted by a coastguard team member who had thrown a safety line to assist their safe return to the shore.
Helmsman Lyndon Baker – recognising the peril of the second girl – entered the water, dressed in shorts and T shirt.
Lyndon, because of his experience and training was sure he could make the distance in the five knot current to the post.
Once there, he encouraged the girl to continue holding on until the D-Class lifeboat was launched to complete the rescue. Lyndon was then assisted in his return to the shore by another Coastguard rescue team member who threw him a safety line.
In the letters to both, Paul Boissier said: “This was a rapidly developing life-threatening scenario. You demonstrated quick thinking, selfless courage and excellent judgement in the face of urgency, saving the lives of two children.”
Lifeboat Operations Manager Matt Davies added: “RNLI volunteers are trained to respond quickly and safely to incidents of all kinds. This was obviously a life or death situation and they both rose to the challenge.”
