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At around breakfast time on the 21st January
1980 the Shoreham Harbour Offshore Lifeboat was called to
the assistance of the 3,500 ton Greek registered vessel
"The Athina B" The ship, on route to Shoreham had encountered problems with her generator, gyro compass and radar whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay. Repairs were carried out at La Rochelle in France and the ship continued on her course towards Shoreham. On arrival at Shoreham the vessel was forced to stand off due to the adverse weather conditions. The captain found he was unable to maintain position and it soon emerged that the ship was drifting towards the harbour. Realising his ship was now in serious danger the Captain asked for immediate assistance from the Coastguard. By this time the ship had lost steerage and was on reduced engine power. The Shoreham Lifeboat "The Dorothy and Philip Constant" skippered by Coxswain Ken Voice was immediately launched and almost straight away was able to evacuate the Captains wife and his two daughters from the vessel on the first run in. By this time in deteriorating weather conditions the seas were extremely heavy. On the second attempt a young French girl was rescued from the ship. Damage was caused to the stern of the lifeboat when it was lifted almost onto the deck of The Athina B in mountainous seas. The rescued French girl, suffering from hypothermia was taken to Shoreham and transferred to an ambulance. The Lifeboat returned to the ship and eleven more crew members were taken off. The tug "Meeching" was standing by but the Captain refused assistance all the time their was a chance he could bring his ship into Shoreham. All that long day the Athina B survived the atrocious weather but towards the evening her position was west of Brighton Marina. Low on fuel and in danger of running aground the Captain put out a "Mayday" call. The Shoreham and Newhaven Lifeboats were launched. Just after nine o'clock in the evening the Shoreham Lifeboat was able to come alongside the ship which by now had run aground. In almost total darkness and heavy surf Coxswain Ken Voice brought the lifeboat alongside and ten seamen jumped from the vessel onto the deck of the Lifeboat, throwing cases of clothes before them that rained down onto the lifeboat crew! Crew member Peter Huxtable, now Coxswain at Shoreham; "One thing still vivid in my mind is all those suitcases being thrown at us". One seaman lost his footing and fell into the sea. He was promptly grabbed by the lifeboat crew and pulled inboard. With all remaining survivors onboard, the Athina B was left to the mercy of the shore and the surf. A plaque on the seafront at Brighton marks the spot where this amazing story was finally brought to a close. The Lifeboat crew members on that day were recorded as: Ken Voice
Coxswain In total 25 persons were successfully taken off "The Athina B" in appalling weather conditions. Shoreham Lifeboat Coxswain Ken Voice was awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal. Ken Everard, Jack Silverson, Michael Fox, Geoff Tugwell, John Landale and Peter Huxtable were awarded the R.N.L.I.'s Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. Peter Everard and Derek Silverson received letters of thanks signed by the director of the R.N.L.I. The "Athina B", her back broken, was written off. She was eventually re-floated and towed away for scrap. Click here to hear a recording of the Athina B putting out a mayday on the night of the rescue Click here for an article written by Ken Voice, coxswain of the Lifeboat during this service |
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