Lifeboat crew's courage honoured

Published on 20/07/2009 19:00

MEMBERS of a lifeboat crew who rescued a Swedish couple after their yacht got into difficulties in extreme weather conditions are to be honoured. .

Coxswain Gary Fairbairn took the Dunbar lifeboat out to sea in galeforce winds to help Jonas and Ingrid Akerblom from Gothenburg.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution yesterday announced he was being honoured with a Bronze medal for gallantry in recognition of his courage, judgment and an boat-handling during the rescue.

And his crew on the night – mechanic Kenny Peters and volunteer crew members Stuart Pirie, Kevin Keillor, Brian Cleator and John Watt – will each receive Medal Service Certificates.

The crew were called out on May 15 after the Akerbloms, who were about 35 miles off the coast of Dunbar, got into difficulties in their 24ft yacht, Ouhm.

Forth Coastguard picked up a radio call and then requested the Dunbar all-weather RNLI lifeboat to launch.

At one point when it was heading towards the stricken yacht the lifeboat fell ten metres from the top of a large wave.

During the rescue the lifeboat was hit by a massive wave, knocking it on to its side and putting the port-side wheelhouse windows under water. But the boat righted itself and the crew were able to grab of Mrs Akerblom and pull her on to the lifeboat, before rescuing her husband.