Two Westcountry-based crews who battled atrocious weather in separate rescues which saved dozens of lives have been rewarded for their extraordinary acts of bravery.
The astonishing actions of a Newlyn fishing boat crew and a helicopter team from RNAS Yeovilton were recognised in The Shipwrecked Mariners' Society's Skill and Gallantry Awards yesterday.
Shaun Edwards, skipper of fishing vessel Nova Spero, was presented with The Lady Swaythling Award after his ship battled through gale-force winds to help pluck 47 passengers off the Fryderyk Chopin, a dismasted tall ship.
"The weather was appalling," he said, recalling the rescue. "We were fishing about 70 miles off Scilly and it was too hard to continue, so we were just going to ride out the storm. Then we got the distress signal and offered our help.
"By the time we got there, the Fryderyk Chopin was in a terrible state. Its main mast was gone and the rigging was all over the place."
The Nova Spero, which is a third of the size of the tall ship, took seven hours to reach the stranded vessel.
Despite the deteriorating conditions, Mr Edwards and his crew managed to set up a towing line and then bring the Fryderyk Chopin back to Falmouth, a journey which took 60 hours.
In collecting the award from the Princess Royal yesterday, Mr Edwards paid tribute to his crew, Richard Nudd, David Fyfee and Lewis Diamond.
"I'm very proud of them and very honoured to get the award on their behalf."
The bravery of the crew of HMS Chatham's Lynx helicopter from 815 Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton was also honoured at the gala ceremony. While on deployment in the Indian Ocean in May last year, the team responded to a distress call from a merchant ship which was at risk of sinking.
While Flight Commander Lt Cdr Peter Higgins and Lt Craig Castle of the Royal Australian Navy hovered overhead, Air Engineering Technician Richard Wilmot, a newly qualified winchman, was lowered on to the vessel, where he recovered the first crewman from the oily, rolling deck.
The role was then continued by Lt Cdr Graham Chesterman, who pulled the remaining 22 off the ship.
The crew received The Edward and Maisie Lewis Award at the ceremony for their outstanding teamwork and courage. Lt Chesterman was also awarded an individual commendation for his bravery.
Chief executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners, Commodore Malcolm Williams CBE RN, said: "The rescue demonstrated all that is best in the seafaring tradition."
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN