RNLI hero braves stormy seas to rescue yacht couple

Aug 28 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

MEMBERS of Llandudno lifeboat crew have been commended after rescuing a husband and wife in icy seas in what has been described as one of the most dangerous rescues the RNLI team has carried out.

Crewman Tim James could be nominated for a bravery award while other crew members are to be commended for their role in rescuing a yacht from sinking in gale-force conditions on Tuesday.

Tim was at risk of being crushed by the 37ft long yacht Odyssey as it was being tossed around by 10ft waves whipped up by force eight winds 30 miles north of the Great Orme.

Secured by a safety harness, he hacked through a two-inch thick rope which had become tangled in the yacht’s propeller and steering gear, rendering it helpless.

“He spent one-and-a-half hours in the sea and was in constant danger of the boat crashing down on him,” explained Ray Evans, acting launching authority for Llandudno RNLI.

“With a three-metre swell the yacht was being tossed around while he was hanging off the back of it trying to cut through the rope. It was an incredibly dangerous situation.”

And Matt Crofts, RNLI deputy divisional inspector, said: “Tim entered the water in controlled conditions wearing the appropriate clothing and all the necessary safety precautions were taken.

“This does not detract from the fact this was an extremely brave act. He acted in the very finest traditions of an RNLI volunteer and should be commended for his actions.

“Freeing the vessel would by no means have been an easy task in these conditions. This was a job well done by all the crew at Llandudno.”

The all-weather lifeboat Andy Pearce, under the command of deputy second coxswain Graham Heritage, was launched at 3pm on Tuesday after coastguards received a mayday from the Odyssey crewed by a husband and wife from Whitchurch in Shropshire who were sailing from the Isle of Man to Conwy.

It took the lifeboat two-and-a-quarter hours to reach the stricken vessel. After the rope had been cut free, Tim James stayed on board the Odyssey and helped the crew sail back to Conwy with the lifeboat staying close by.

The couple on board the yacht were unharmed but the wife was said to be badly frightened by the incident.

judith.phillips