25aug2004

Porthcawl Lifeboat Station

Last Updated On:August 25, 2004

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Porthcawl Lifeboat Station

25-Aug-04

RNLI lifeboat woman awarded gallantry medal — first in living memory
The RNLI has today announced (23 Nov) that Porthcawl Helmsman, Aileen Jones is to be awarded the Institution’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry for her part in the rescue of two fishermen on August 24, 2004. Aileen is the first lifeboat woman in 116 years to be given such an accolade, the last medal awarded to a woman crew member was in 1888.
Three other Porthcawl crew members will receive awards for their part in the dramatic rescue. Crew Member Simon Emms, who boarded the stricken vessel, is to be accorded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. Crew Members Steven Knipe and Mark Burtonwood will be presented with Medal Service Badges and certificates. Coxswain Martin Double of The Mumbles lifeboat, which also assisted in the rescue, will receive a letter of appreciation signed by the RNLI Chief Executive, Andrew Freemantle.
RNLI Operations Director, Michael Vlasto, says:
Aileen used all her skills in leadership and boat handling to contend with very dangerous sea conditions, and coupled with her own personal attributes of selflessness and bravery, Helmsman Jones and her crew were able to save two lives — we owe her and all involved a debt of gratitude.
The RNLI recognises the bravery of ordinary people doing extraordinary things and I am very proud that Aileen has been awarded the RNLI’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry. It has been over 100 years since an RNLI medal has been given to a lifeboat woman and in the Institution’s 180 year history only 1 9 other woman have received medals, Aileen should be very proud too.
Rescue summary
The rescue began when the fishing vessel Gower Pride suffered engine failure near to the Nash sandbank in gale force 8 winds, rough seas and a three metre swell. The skipper and an injured fisherman were on board. The crew of the Porthcawl lifeboat faced atrocious sea conditions and twice managed to connect a towline — the second time by putting Crewman Emms on board the fishing vessel after the first towline broke. At that moment the Gower Pride was hit by a large breaking wave on the starboard side and was thrown against the lifeboat. Some of the Gower Pride’s equipment landed on Crewman Burtonwood, but fortunately did not injure him. Helmsman Jones quickly manoeuvred the vessels apart, and continued — with great skill to use the inshore lifeboat to keep the rolling fishing vessel away from danger. They began a slow tow against high seas, which at times lifted the bow of the lifeboat precariously out of the water. Because of the continuing danger, and as the weather conditions on the bank were so treacherous, Helmsman Jones had already requested the launch of The Mumbles lifeboat.
Once The Mumbles all weather lifeboat arrived on scene, Crewman Emms crawled around the Gower Pride, three times attempting to get the towline and heaving line from The Mumbles lifeboat. Gale force winds, and his vulnerable position in trying to hold on, prevented the first two attempts succeeding. Coxswain Martin Double decided the only solution was to bring the all weather lifeboat to within arms reach of the stricken vessel whilst Porthcawl lifeboat continued the tow, which was preventing Gower Pride from being pushed onto the Nash sandbank. The tow was eventually secured much to the relief of the skipper and his injured crewman. Both lifeboats and the Gower Pride, now under tow by The Mumbles lifeboat, set out on the slow and still perilous passage home.
• Full rescue scenario and Jpeg charts/diagrams of the rescue are available upon request; call the press office on the Numbers below.
Photo call
Opportunity to photograph and interview Aileen Jones and members of the Porthcawl crew at the station:
Date and time: Friday 26 November at 1 .3Opm Venue: Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, Eastern Promenade CF36 3BN
For photo call contact: Danielle Rush, RNLI Media Relations for Wales
T: 01745 585162; M: 07786 668829;
drush@rnli.org.uk
Notes to editors
1. The first woman to be awarded a medal was Grace Darling who received a silver medal in 1838. Nineteen other silver medals have previously been awarded to women — the last in 1888. These included four to the sisters Prideaux-Brune and one to Miss Nora O’Shaughnessy of Padstow in 1879.
2. Short biographies
Helmsman Aileen Jones is the mother of two children, Daniel and Frances and wife to Porthcawl’s Senior Helmsman Stephen Jones. Aileen is a nursery assistant in Nottage Primary School, near Porthcawl and became involved as a station volunteer shore helper in 1994, progressing to crew member in 1995, and then Helmsman in 1999.
Crewman Simon Emms joined the Porthcawl station as volunteer shore helper in 2001, progressed to crew member in 2002, and is currently training to become a helmsman. Simon is 28 years old, and is an industrial chemist.
Crewman Stephen Knipe is 32 years old and joined the Porthcawl station as volunteer crewman on 1990 and progressed to Helmsman in 1998 (during this service Stephen was acting as crewman).
Crewman Mark Burtonwood is 19 years old and joined the Porthcawl station as volunteer crew member in 2002. Mark is Porthcawl Lifeboat Station currently a university student, but volunteers for the RNLI when at home during university holidays.
Coxswain Martin Double is 43 years old and joined The Mumbles station as volunteer all weather and inshore lifeboat crew member in 1990, trained to be emergency mechanic 1993/94, becoming RNLI staff Second Coxswain/Mechanic, a role that he continues to date.
3. In the first part of the RNLI’s history, only silver and gold medals for Gallantry were awarded, the bronze medal was introduced in 1917.
4. Inshore lifeboats were first introduced to the RNLI fleet in 1963; women have volunteered to crew inshore lifeboats since this date. 5. Only 61 Helmsmen have been awarded medals for inshore lifeboat services during the 41 years of this rescue boats operation within the RNLI fleet.
6. There are currently 350 (7%) women crew members within the RN LI, on both inshore and all weather lifeboats; total crew member numbers for the RNLI stand at around 4,800.
7. Wales has 23 RNLI lifeboat stations, which represents 13% of RNLI stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland, but has 71 women crew, over 20% of the total female crew number for the RNLI.
8. The Bronze Medal for Gallantry will be presented to Helmsman Aileen Jones at the RNLI’s Annual Presentation of Awards in London on Thursday, 19 May 2005.
Please note embargo: 00.01, Sunday 28 November
For more information call the RNLI press office on
01202 662218/3184/3181/3127/3150
www.rnli.org.uk
24th August 2004 Launched 11:15 BST
High Tide 12:53 BST RTS 13:55 BST
Helmsman: Aileen Jones
Crew: Steve Knipe, Simon Emms, Marc Burtonwood.

MRCC Swansea received on channel 16 a message from the commercial fishing vessel Gower Pride that she needed immediate assistance off the Nash sand bank Porthcawl. It wasn’t so much a radio call but a scream for help that was virtually inaudible. MRCC Swansea took a long time to understand what or where the casualty was, but it was very definite that he was in very serious trouble. (A taped copy of the radio massages between all stations has been requested from MRCC Swansea) The weather was very poor with South-westerly winds force 7 to 8 with frequent heavy rain squalls passing through. Sea conditions were rough.
It was established by MRCC Swansea that the Gower Pride had broken down and though they were trying to anchor it was just too rough and the boat was drifting down onto the Nash sands. At one point the Gower Pride had 3 anchors out, but all were carried away.
MRCC Swansea was slowly managing to calm the casualty down, but most of the time he was just screaming in panic. But it was slowly established that the casualty was drifting onto the Nash Sands.
Porthcawl Lifeboat was paged; it was decided to take an extra crewman due to the extreme conditions. About this time the Gower Pride reported that her crewman had injured his arm trying to anchor the boat.
The Lifeboat launched and running parallel with the seas made good speed to the Nash Bank. The Gower Pride was then found to be on the South side of the bank. The Lifeboat was unable to cross the bank due to the sea conditions. The Lifeboat then headed East, through the Nash Passage, conditions were very rough, the Lifeboat frequently becoming airborne.
Helmsman Aileen Jones pushed the Lifeboat as hard as she could in the conditions knowing the predicament the casualty was in. The Lifeboat arrived on scene and found the Gower Pride in the surf on the banks, rolling on beams end and pitching bearing the bow under water. The surf was up to 3 metres high. At this point the LOM arrived at the station, after assessing the situation. The Lifeboat was operating at the extreme of its capability and where the casualty was, LOM phoned MRCC Swansea requesting The Mumbles all weather Lifeboat be brought to immediate readiness. The Porthcawl Lifeboat was informed by MRCC Swansea that The Mumbles Lifeboat was on stand by for them, and Helmsman Aileen Jones looking at the casualty’s predicament requested her immediate launch.
The Gower Pride was in a very dangerous position, though the banks were covered, once on the bank you become trapped on it being washed along its 6 mile length. The waves running along its length in a V formation. Helmsman Aileen Jones first option was to take the two crewmen off the casualty. But this option was now out of the question due to the injured crewmen. It was then decided to take the Lifeboat into the surf and throw the towrope to the casualty. The Gower Pride was informed of the Lifeboats intention, the Lifeboat was smartly taken into the surf, brought head to seas and the tow rope passed. It was tied on by The Skipper of the casualty and once clear of the surf power slowly applied and the Gower Pride dragged clear of the Bank.
The Lifeboat was handling well but standing on end in the seas. The Lifeboat managed to pull the casualty and eventually up to 5 knots. The Lifeboat was slowly making progress away from the Nash Sands when the towrope came undone from the bow of the casualty. She immediately started to drift back onto the Nash Sands. The Lifeboat ran back to the Gower Pride, the Towrope made ready, but the Skipper of the casualty refused to go up onto the bow of the Gower Pride, it being to dangerous.
Helmsman Aileen Jones then instructed Crewman Simon Emms to get ready to transfer to the casualty. By this time the Gower Pride was now back on the Nash Sands. The Lifeboat was rundown through the surf and brought alongside the casualty. Crewman S Emms then jumped onboard the Gower Pride. As the Lifeboat came along side the Gower Pride rolled onto the Lifeboat, she had a lot of dan buoys tied upright on her stem, these crashed down on Crewman Mark Burtonwood some breaking across his back, and luckily he was not injured. Crewman S Emms made his was to the bow, hanging on for life, The Lifeboat then re approached the casualty and the towrope passed. Again in very dangerous conditions the Gower Pride was pulled clear. Crewman S Emms then went and assessed the injured crewman. But as the Gower Pride was still rolling and pitching excessively, apart from making comfortable little first aid could be done.
The Porthcawl Lifeboat then slowly made its way South West away from the banks and towards the Mumbles Lifeboat. The Mumbles Lifeboat arrived on scene and the Porthcawl Lifeboat tow was dropped. Crewman S Emms then attempted to receive the towrope from the Mumbles Lifeboat but it was just too rough. The Mumbles Lifeboat then re approached and a heaving line thrown, eventually the Towrope was made secure. It was suggested that the casualties be taken off the Gower Pride but this was deemed to dangerous by the Mumbles coxswain.
The Mumbles Lifeboat then towed the casualty back to Porthcawl without further incident. Once in the lee of Porthcawl pier the Porthcawl Lifeboat then went alongside the casualty took the injured crewman onboard and then alongside the Lifeboat slip where an Ambulance was waiting. (He made a full recovery in hospital). Porthcawl Lifeboat then took over the tow and berthed the Gower Pride in Porthcawl harbour. The Mumbles and Porthcawl Lifeboats then returned to station. Porthcawl lifeboat was launched at 11:15 today and carried out one of the most difficult rescues of the year so far. Two local men aboard their fishing boat Gower Pride, from Porthcawl, ran aground on the notoriously dangerous Nash sand bank when their boat suffered engine failure.

Helmsman, Aileen Jones a teacher's aid at Nottage Primary School, said “When we reached the boat, which was at the edge of the sands, the breaking waves were approximately 15 to 20 feet high. I realised then that conditions were beyond the safe operating limits set for our Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Giles. I decided to attempt a tow into deeper water and also requested back-up assistance from the Mumbles all-weather lifeboat which was launched immediately.”

The rescue took place 7 miles from Porthcawl; the lifeboat crew with Aileen were Steve Knipe, Mark Burtonwood and newly wed Simon Emms. At one stage, before the Mumbles lifeboat arrived, the tow parted and Simon was transferred onto Gower Pride in difficult conditions to secure the tow rope and deal with one of the fishermen who had suffered an arm injury.

The tow was eventually passed to the more powerful Mumbles Lifeboat and all three vessels proceeded to the shelter of Porthcawl harbour where an ambulance was standing by to administer assistance to the injured fisherman.

Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl, Philip Missen, said “The rescue had been carried out with professionalism under extremely difficult conditions. The fishermen are very lucky to have been rescued before the situation became more serious.”

19-Oct-04

‘Fishing boat skipper says Thank you’

Gordon Woosnam, owner of the fishing boat ‘Gower Pride’ was recently rescued in a joint effort in which Porthcawl Inshore Lifeboat and the Mumbles Offshore Lifeboat combined to save Mr Woosnam and his boat from the notorious Nash Sand Bank where he had run aground when his engine failed.

Mr Woosnam aged 37, who is married and lives on Broadlands in Bridgend, was so appreciative of the rescue that brought him safely back to Porthcawl after enduring very bad conditions that he called to Porthcawl Lifeboat Station to say thank you and present the crew with a donation. Helmsman on the rescue for Porthcawl’s Atlantic 75 was Aileen Jones, a teacher’s assistant at Nottage Primary School in Porthcawl. Mr Woosnam said, “I was particularly impressed with Aileen’s seamanship on the rescue and have only praise for her and her crew in the way they managed to tow me off the sandbank before the Mumbles Lifeboat arrived and took over the tow.”

Aileen Jones received a bouquet of flowers from Mr Woosnam, a fork lift driver at Sony’s. He also made a donation to the Mumbles Lifeboat Station. Aileen Jones, who is one of very few female senior helmsmen within the RNLI said,” I was delighted to receive the flowers and the donation. It means so much when someone says thank you. We give our time voluntarily to save lives at sea and do it because it is very rewarding, especially when one of our ‘rescued’ takes time to visit us to say thank you.”

The full crew on Porthcawl’s Lifeboat ‘Giles’ were, Aileen Jones Helmsman, Steve Knipe, Mark Burtonwood and Simon Emms.