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Lifeboat volunteer awarded gallantry medal for dramatic Fife coast rescue Lifeboat volunteer awarded gallantry medal for dramatic Fife coast rescue
(4 months later)
A lifeboat volunteer has been awarded a gallantry medal for his role in a dramatic sea rescue that saved the lives of two men.A lifeboat volunteer has been awarded a gallantry medal for his role in a dramatic sea rescue that saved the lives of two men.
Barry Gourlay, 30, and two colleagues battled three-metre waves in complete darkness to get to a boat which had run aground in poor conditions off the Fife coast last year.Barry Gourlay, 30, and two colleagues battled three-metre waves in complete darkness to get to a boat which had run aground in poor conditions off the Fife coast last year.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) bosses said his expert seamanship undoubtedly saved the lives of the vessel's occupants.Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) bosses said his expert seamanship undoubtedly saved the lives of the vessel's occupants.
Gourlay, a mechanical engineer, was presented with a bronze medal for gallantry at the charity's annual award ceremony in London on Thursday. It was the first such award presented to a crew member from Anstruther lifeboat station since it was established in 1865.Gourlay, a mechanical engineer, was presented with a bronze medal for gallantry at the charity's annual award ceremony in London on Thursday. It was the first such award presented to a crew member from Anstruther lifeboat station since it was established in 1865.
His fellow crew members, fisherman Euan Hoggan, 22, and PhD student Rebecca Jewell, 30, also attended the ceremony. They will be formally thanked by the institution at a July ceremony in Scotland, in recognition of their skill and bravery that night.His fellow crew members, fisherman Euan Hoggan, 22, and PhD student Rebecca Jewell, 30, also attended the ceremony. They will be formally thanked by the institution at a July ceremony in Scotland, in recognition of their skill and bravery that night.
Gourlay said it was a great honour to receive the award for his courage and boat-handling skills.Gourlay said it was a great honour to receive the award for his courage and boat-handling skills.
"We are fortunate to receive such a high level of training from the RNLI, which gave us the skills to carry out this rescue," he said."We are fortunate to receive such a high level of training from the RNLI, which gave us the skills to carry out this rescue," he said.
"I was able to act decisively on the night because I had such confidence in the ability of my crew mates, Becci and Euan. It was very much a team effort, recognition must also go to the shore crew and the crew aboard the all-weather lifeboat.""I was able to act decisively on the night because I had such confidence in the ability of my crew mates, Becci and Euan. It was very much a team effort, recognition must also go to the shore crew and the crew aboard the all-weather lifeboat."
The rescue began at 1am on 1 August last year. The RNLI's inshore lifeboat, named Norma and Bill Burleigh, was launched to help the two men whose boat had got into difficulty in challenging weather conditions.The rescue began at 1am on 1 August last year. The RNLI's inshore lifeboat, named Norma and Bill Burleigh, was launched to help the two men whose boat had got into difficulty in challenging weather conditions.
The casualties, Paul Harrison and his son Sean Harrison, from Liverpool, had begun their journey in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, but hit trouble when a problem with their boat's hydraulic steering emerged.The casualties, Paul Harrison and his son Sean Harrison, from Liverpool, had begun their journey in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, but hit trouble when a problem with their boat's hydraulic steering emerged.
The vessel, Princess, ran aground at Crail, 10 miles south east of St Andrews, and the strong winds and swell had driven the boat onto the rocks.The vessel, Princess, ran aground at Crail, 10 miles south east of St Andrews, and the strong winds and swell had driven the boat onto the rocks.
With Gourlay in control as senior helm, the lifeboat picked its way through breaking waves, shallow water and debris to get to the men.With Gourlay in control as senior helm, the lifeboat picked its way through breaking waves, shallow water and debris to get to the men.
Once they were brought safely aboard, the inshore lifeboat made its way out to Anstruther's larger all-weather lifeboat, which brought them ashore.Once they were brought safely aboard, the inshore lifeboat made its way out to Anstruther's larger all-weather lifeboat, which brought them ashore.
Speaking of Gourlay and the rest of the crew, Paul Harrison said: "To do what he did with that boat in those conditions – that takes something.Speaking of Gourlay and the rest of the crew, Paul Harrison said: "To do what he did with that boat in those conditions – that takes something.
"They were just fantastic, there wasn't anything that they didn't do for us, a lot of people don't realise that they're not paid for it, they have jobs as well and they're putting their lives in jeopardy to save other people.""They were just fantastic, there wasn't anything that they didn't do for us, a lot of people don't realise that they're not paid for it, they have jobs as well and they're putting their lives in jeopardy to save other people."
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