Awards for brave coastguards

Bexhill's Coastguard Station Officer, Dick Rowsell, has joined colleagues Roy Hopgood, Ben Calloway and Don Ellis together with 17 other national life-savers at a special Downing Street reception held by Prime Minister Tony Blair, before going on to a glittering event at London's Savoy, hosted by Gaby Roslin and Nick Ross.

They received their award before a 300-strong star-studded audience including Carol Smillie, Claire Sweeney, Fern Britton, Philip Schofield, Simon Weston, Martin Kemp, Jodie Marsh and Daniella Westbrook.

Their story was told in the Observer on October 29.

While giving a demonstration of cliff rescue work before a 5,000 crowd at last year's 999 emergency display day at Eastbourne the three teams were called to Beachy Head to a real emergency.

There the teams, including Dick Rowsell, Tom Bloor, Joe Marchant and Rob Lane of Bexhill, found that Charlotte Forbes had fallen 150ft down the 550ft drop and was trapped precariously on a narrow ledge with serious injuries.

There was another surprise in store for the Coastguards at the awards ceremony when they were brought together on stage with Charlotte for an emotional surprise reunion.

Speaking at No.10, Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "Bravery in the face of adversity requires a huge strength of will and we should all be eternally grateful for those who selflessly put others before themselves.

"Their fortitude is something that must never be undervalued and they are a true asset to this proud nation."

Awards ceremony guests heard how 25 year-old Charlotte had been reading a book when the cliff crumbled beneath her.

She was alive but badly injured help the Coastguards arrived. One false move would send her plummeting another 400 feet to her death on the rocks below.

Working together, the teams '“ all volunteers - quickly set up ropes and a stretcher whilst Roy Hopgood and Ben Calloway from the Eastbourne Rescue Team began the perilous descent down the sheer face of the cliff.

When they eventually reached Charlotte they found her injuries were so severe that they feared any sudden movement could paralyse her. Balancing precariously on the tiny ledge with the waves far below, the two men gently lifted the woman onto the stretcher.

They spent nerve-wracking minutes securing her neck and broken arms, ready for the hazardous journey back to the cliff top. Once completed, the waiting teams above were given the signal to slowly raise the stretcher. Meanwhile, Roy and Ben used their bodies to protect the injured woman from the rocks as they were gently lifted to the top.

Charlotte was taken to hospital and has now recovered from her ordeal.

The Life Savers awards '“ a national search for Britain's most inspiring rescue stories '“ were launched in April by Vodafone UK.

The Coastguards' story was selected by the awards' judging panel including Major General Christopher Tyler of the Royal Humane Society, Carol Smillie, Simon Weston and This Morning TV presenters Fern Britton and Philip Schofield.

Bill Morrow, Chief Executive Officer at Vodafone UK said: "Vodafone is proud to be part of these unique awards which so clearly demonstrate the vital role mobile phones now play when minutes matter. Those we honour are an inspiration to us all '“ and it is a privilege to celebrate their courage today."

PICTURED left: the rescue of Charlotte Forbes that led to the four coastguards' awards. Right: Bexhil's gallant foursome.