Scarborough lifeboat volunteer gets bravery award

Rudi Barman (centre) with his Scarborough lifeboat colleagues (L-R Craig Burnett, Dr Peter Billingsley, Mr Barman, Jason Hedges and Adam Beston)

A Scarborough lifeboat volunteer who braved near gale force winds and treacherous seas in a bid to rescue a dog walker swept out to sea has been awarded a medal for gallantry.

RNLI helmsman Rudi Barman, 36, led a team of five in their efforts to save Andrew McGeown on 22 February.

Mr McGeown was pulled unconscious from the water and taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Mr Barman and his crew were praised for their "courage and dedication".

'Great honour'

RNLI Operations Manager George Rawlinson said: "It took exceptional boat-handling skill, leadership and bravery for Rudi, along with his crew, to attempt to rescue Mr McGeown in confused seas, at night and close to a dangerous shore.

"Although this rescue was marked by tragedy, it is a testament to their team work and tenacity that they did everything they could to reach the casualty and bring him ashore."

Mr Barman, who is the first Scarborough-based recipient of the medal since 1973, said it was "great honour" to receive the award.

He said: "This was a difficult rescue in very challenging conditions and we did everything we possibly could for Andrew so we were all devastated we were unable to save him."

Fellow crew members Craig Burnett, 45, and Adam Beston, 30, were given framed letters of thanks from the chairman, while Dr Peter Billingsley, 48, and Jason Hedges, 29, received letters of thanks from the operations director.