THE extraordinary courage shown by two lifeboatmen who put their own lives on the line to save a lone sailor are recognised today.

Helmsman Stephen Iredale, 35, of North Yorkshire's Staithes and Runswick lifeboat, is to be presented with one of the RNLI's highest honours, the Bronze Medal, by the Duke of Kent.

For his part in the same rescue, Second Coxswain Keith Elliot, 55, of the Whitby lifeboat, is being awarded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum.

Together with their crews, they saved the life of a sailor whose trimaran, the SIS, was in danger of being smashed ashore in large breaking seas, off Runswick Bay, on a stormy night last September.

The Staithes boat, a rigid inflatable, was working at the very limit of its operational capability in 13ft waves.

The trimaran design meant getting alongside and away again was dangerous.

The all-weather Whitby boat had to manoeuvre in very confined waters to provide illumination, support and eventually a lee to the inflatable.

During the rescue the breaking seas were so deep that twice the rescuers' lifejackets inflated automatically.

In the cold and driving conditions the Staithes boat had to make three approaches before it could effect the rescue.

The sailor was transferred to the Whitby boat, itself a hazardous operation.

The return to port was so perilous that the Staithes boat had to return to Whitby to await daylight.

Also being honoured for their part in the rescue are Staithes crew members Sean Baxter, 43, and Colin Harrison, 40, who will receive a medal service certificate and badge.

The Whitby crew of Glenn Goodberry, 41; Nicholas Botham, 40; John Pearson, 36, Anthony Morley, 30; Mark Frankland, 30; and Treve Ellis are each being presented with a vellum service certificate.