Gold medal rescue: the incredible story of the Bonita

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This film recounts one of the most incredible rescue missions in RNLI history. A Gold Medal was awarded to Guernsey RNLI Coxswain Michael Scales and Bronze Medals to Second Coxswain Peter Nicholas, Mechanic Robert Vowles, and crew members Alan Martel, Peter Bisson, John Bougourd, Richard Hamon and John Webster for saving 29 of the crew of the Ecuadorian vessel Bonita in hurricane force winds and huge seas on 13 December 1981. Claude Jouin, master of the tug 'Abeille Languedoc', was also awarded a Framed Letter of Thanks for rescuing the final member of the Bonita's crew after he fell from the hatch door into the sea.
Tragically, this medal-winning service was followed just days later by the Penlee disaster in which the Solomon Browne lifeboat was lost along with the volunteer crew.
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland are ready to launch to help those in need. Whether you're stuck on a sinking ship, cut off by a rapidly rising tide, or in the water and close to drowning, RNLI crew members will drop everything to come to your rescue. 95% of RNLI lifeboat crews and station staff are volunteers.
But it’s not just lifeboats. RNLI lifeguards patrol 248 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands, keeping people safe, providing safety advice and rescuing those in trouble. Education volunteers visit schools and swimming clubs to help teach the next generation how to enjoy the water safely. And volunteer fundraisers and shop workers give up their time to generate vital funds. The RNLI is also working to help communities around the world that are most at risk of drowning.
If you spot someone in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
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Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ

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15 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 111

@ninasigurdsen9385 2 года назад

Today, december 13 2021, it is 40 years since this happened. I was one of the children. I am so glad this crew was on watch that day, and saved us ❤

@rnli 2 года назад

Nina, wow! Did you see Michael's video? Here: rnli.social/3pNW4Ew If you are interested in sharing your recollections, or the impact, on you do email our Case Study team yourstory@rnli.org.uk

@erikandrehoglund55 6 месяцев назад

True Heros ❤

@susannewilliams 2 месяца назад

Good one you!

@rogerprice7704 2 месяца назад

Never ever doubt the courage of lifeboat crew who are volunteers and ready to assist all 24hrs every day. Outstanding service throughout history from rowing boats of old to the newest engine driven they are saviors to so many

@rnli 2 месяца назад

Thank you Roger, we're so grateful for our amazing volunteer crews, and the people that support them

@rogerprice7704 2 месяца назад

@@rnli I’m happy to contribute and the Shannon class 13-40 bears my late father’s name I would love to know its current deployment and building the airfix model for a tribute but quick question if I may during research I see some have either white lower hull or black what should it be ?

@raybenstead2548 2 месяца назад

All life boat crew members are heroes, enough said.

@rnli 2 месяца назад

🙌👍

@Spitfiresammons 3 месяца назад

This story is so amazing it should be made into a movie just like the 2016 Disney movie The finest hours.

@cycleSCUBA Год назад

An astonishing story. Bravery by all parties: Bonita crew, Royal Navy, RNLI. The RNLI Gold Medal richly deserved by Coxswain Scales and the Bronze to his crew. I'm so proud and privileged to be an RNLI Shoreline Member. God rest the souls of the RNLI Penlee Crew.

@rnli Год назад

Thank you for commenting, we loved hearing from you - we're proud to have you as part of the RNLI, we couldn't do what we do without you 💙

@rnli 12 лет назад

We've just been notified that the Bonita's Electrician, Nils K.Fosstveit, took the photograph of the Bonita in in port in Puerto Bolivar, back in spring 1980. We'd like to thank him too!

@Naflemac 7 лет назад

Nils K.Fosstveit lives in Tvedestrand Norway and is alive and well thanks to the rescue team onboard the Sir William Arnold lifeboat. Real life heroes!

@michaelandrosalindboggis2584 2 года назад

Such courageous men who are much admired by my family , who have many years of naval service.. Thank God for all of these Heroes. May He always sail with them.❤

@rnli 2 года назад

Thank you so much for your kind words and support for our lifesavers ❤

@nosay2930 8 лет назад

We are so lucky to have the RNLI, I'd like to thank everyone who is involved from the skippers to the guys standing in the rain with the collection tins. You're all bloody brilliant!

@dunruden9720 5 лет назад

And every other volunteer marine rescue organisation in every other country!

@curt3494 2 года назад

I've always been in awe of these lifeboatmen. Come rain or shine, hurricane force winds, and 30ft waves, they'll be there to help you.

@garyandrewranford 3 года назад

There is no greater act in life than those who would lay down their lives for someone else... The RNLI, the legends, the heroes God bless you all 🙏 ❤

@marvindebot3264 3 года назад

Pen Lee and The Star . . . RIP to the crew of the lifeboat. Moments in time . . . Bravest of the brave . . .

@andrewvillarubia5454 2 года назад

God bless this men from Gibraltar ❤❤

@rhonda4333 2 года назад

Everyone of them are hero's. The best of the best.

@billkingston4402 Год назад

Thanks for being there

@randymillhouse791 2 года назад

You know what is so very sad? People are now watching stupid TV shows like "The Masked Singer", etc. Yet there are tremendous documentaries of human courage available on RU-vid and I see very old comments posted about them. Where is human curiosity these days? Such a superb story about REAL HERO'S! No Kardashian BS here.

@KAZAZOOZAY 12 лет назад

Anyone who's worked at sea will remember the crew of the Penlee lifeboat on 19/12/2011 they still touch everyone . Well done to all the crews of the RNLI .

@keithhow5901 3 года назад

The bravest of the brave without a doubt !

@zerotoleranceforsataniceli4794 3 года назад

That Dec 1981 must have been like no other for 2 such terrible storms, ome of which led to the Penlee disaster. So good to know that this rescue was successful against the odds.

@rnli 3 года назад

Absolutely, such a rollercoaster of emotions and events which still resonate today. We will be marking both rescues in Dec for the 40th anniversary.

@zerotoleranceforsataniceli4794 3 года назад

@@rnli Great 👍 What will you be doing and how & where can the public find out ?

@johnoneill9539 5 лет назад

Over the years have seen these real men turn out to rescue in any atrocious weather to rescue those in dire peril in our treacherous seas around Guernsey on so many occasions and being a Guernseymen myself and knowing many of them over the years feel any! award to them these modest heroes is just not enough, but they will only smile at you if you dare! mention that , may God above bless and look after these truly great yet so modest lifesavers of the seas. NO mere words are enough, again! God bless them .

@rnli 5 лет назад

For our dedicated volunteers it's all about saving lives. Thanks for your support John.

@MargieM10 2 года назад

What wonderful, beautiful men.

@Fcutdlady 3 года назад

Much respect to those men on both lifeboats . I remember watching a TV programme on the Penlee lifeboat too . Lets not forget that These men are volunteers risking their lives for those in peril on the sea .

@marqshir Год назад

The crew of the Sir William Arnold won't be forgotten and the same for the crew of the Solomon brown who didn't make it back after heroically going out to the union star.

@bidentrump1179 Год назад

Next time I saw him, his head was away... Wow... You know that has to stay with him. Poor guy

@dockerandy 3 года назад

God bless all the lifeboat crews for their courageous selfless service including all those lost to the sea, without whom many many more souls would've been lost. Thank you for your service.

@rnli 3 года назад

We wouldn't be here without supporters like you too - thanks Andy 😊

@michaelf5292 2 года назад

Wow. Greatest respect to you all. 🙂

@rnli 2 года назад

Thanks Michael, Bontia was on of our most remarkable rescues

@michaelf5292 2 года назад

@@rnli It certainly was. Just amazing watching. In Australia we have the Country Fire Service /Country Fire Aauthority/Rural Fire Service who are your equivalent. I know right, water vs bush fires, but you're all legends regardless of the country. When we where last in the UK, we visited the Hastings Lifeboat Station + others, and it was amazing. You lot are legends, and yes, we made our dontations as appropriate. Best wishes from Aus :-) ❤

@rnli 2 года назад

Bush fires, or waves, as you say both take bravery and are needed. Hopefully you'll get to visit again soon and see even more of our stations, and we thank you for donating whilst here 💙

@Mr_guernsey_explorer180 Год назад

Lifeboat crew were awesome I share this all the time as what they did was out of this world risked there own life's to save life's them guys should of got a bigger medal great rescue great group of guys

@terrystephens1102 4 года назад

What an outstanding rescue, such courage, determination and commitment to service - everyone of the crew, a genuine hero. Vale the Pen Lee crew who shared the same values and sacrificed their lives for others - the greatest sacrifice of all.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

@juanricaud2142 8 лет назад

Thank you for your service, you are all heros. A lifetime fisherman.

@bazwright1962 4 года назад

Hat's off to all the brave heroes of the RNLI

@tomrailton9201 3 года назад

Sirs you are true heroes I hope I never have to call you being a fisherman myself. I salute you all stay safe and take care. Tom.

@jerzjurkiewicz2674 2 года назад

Absolutely amazing. Nicely done.

@rnli 2 года назад

💛💛💛

@robertsmith2221 4 года назад

God bless all the men and women of the RNLI real guardian angels who give everything including there life's to save others..

@antonyn9738 5 лет назад

They make one feel so humble. So brave.

@brettzelinski8395 4 года назад

Heroes

@stupot7281 3 года назад

Great rescue story

@MrBooojangles 12 лет назад

I am a friend of John Webster and I know Peter Bougourd as he was one of our politicians. I live in Guernsey and they said on our news that the RNLI had made this video. I didn't know this rescue was so terrifying. Good video RNLI.

@bougsyboy1001 8 лет назад

Nothing short of Hero,s, very moving experience, to watch, people dont become any braver that all of you,who put your own lives on the line for other.

@peter9180 6 лет назад

God bless all RNLI crews.

@sixsixteensevens297 4 года назад

Well done RNLI crew!

@LadyOaksNZ 3 года назад

Heroes ALL. 💯⚘💯

@rnli 3 года назад

Thank you LadyOaks NZ! 😊

@goldiefish72 12 лет назад

The Sir William Arnold is now being operated as a leisure craft in Cork now named "Samuel J". It enjoys a well deserved retirement in calmer waters.

@johnmurrell3175 4 года назад

She has now been brought by an ex-RNLI crew member who is restoring her from 'poor condition' for display at St Catherine's marina in London. The prototype Arun is on display at the Lifeboat Museum at Chatham Dockyard if you want to see inside an Arun class lifeboat.

@Naflemac 4 года назад

"..next time I saw him his head was away" Think about what a cruel sight that must have been and a sight he will allways remember of one of the ship crew remember, poor man!

@johnaboardviolet237 Год назад

True heroism

@MegaBoilermaker 6 лет назад

To me, and most other sailors the RNLI consists of the men on the deck of the lifeboat (god bless em) and not some organisation or other because as my mum used to say we only have a lifeboat crew because most of them have tied up their own boats because it is too dangerous to go to sea..

@jackwalsh7996 9 лет назад

Huge respect

@lindadavies6109 5 лет назад

Heroes all!

@rnli 12 лет назад

@sailcorkharbour thanks for watching and your comment - it's amazing that the boat was so unscathed after the rescue - testament to its superb boat handling and the way she was designed and built in the first place. Happy sailing!

@codprawn 6 лет назад

A very moving video. True heros. Such a shame the RNLI is becoming politically correct They sacked several members of the Whitby lifeboat - all because one of the crew had a mug made with a rude picture on it. Women join the lifeboat service these days and then object to men being men!

@castrolgtx5064 4 года назад

codprawn my wife said to me the only time women should be on a lifeboat is when their being rescued by one end of.

@johnmurrell3175 4 года назад

The mug was apparently in view of visitors so children including school parties would have been able to see it hence the action taken by the RNLI.

@codprawn 4 года назад

@@johnmurrell3175 OK so move the mug - simple!

@johnmurrell3175 4 года назад

@@codprawn Too late the damage had already been done. It is not clear if a teacher or a member of the public reported it but ithad apparently been seen by the public so lowering the RNLIs high reputation.

@codprawn 4 года назад

@@johnmurrell3175 I hope they were very proud of themselves! This country is getting more prudish than the Victorians!

@MrAli171 5 лет назад

The bravest of the brave

@mrtreeboy222 12 лет назад

really good, i liked this vidoe - quite touching.

@richarddyasonihc Год назад

The RNL volunteers are the unsung heroes of our small, maritime nation. They are all volunteers, who constantly risk their own lives to save TWhe lives of anyone who finds themselves in trouble in the waters which are so important to our national culture.

@123boat Год назад

Incredible bravery

@rnli 12 лет назад

@MrTeaHB19 Hi thanks for your nice comments and interest. You need to be 17 years old to join up - have a look at the volunteering zone on our website for more details!

@sailcorkharbour 12 лет назад

Great to see this, thanks for posting, Samuel J ex sir William Arnold

@lukestagg2138 3 года назад

Godbless the RNLI, but let’s not also forget 100 or so independent lifeboat stations that operate across the UK, filling in vital gaps

@marqshir Год назад

This video shows the heroic rescue of those on the Bonita by the rnli ,and tells us what occured 6days later off Cornwall

@Vagabondo-fs6qu 5 лет назад

a slate grey coloured sea was this to be the end of me the howling storm and towering sea cast asunder my crew mates and me and through the hours of the dark night the ocean swells a terrifying sight the hours the endless hours the lifeboat came for me ~jdeXpressions~

@illizeroilli5762 4 года назад

My dad helped save them

@margiegandy9189 2 года назад

Wow!

@rnli 2 года назад

🙂

@jean-yvesfox820 3 года назад

I m french and I dont really understand how the motor man ended up in the Abeille Languedoc (salvage tug). Someone can tell?

@rnli 3 года назад

Hi Jean-Yves, the final injured man ended up falling from the vessel into the sea. Captain Claude Jouin, master of Abeille Languedoc, waited until the man was clear of Bonita's masts and then moved in and rescued him from the water.

@jean-yvesfox820 3 года назад

RNLI ok understood! Thank you! ( from a boat off west Africa coast)

@hotshot902 Год назад

Bravo Zulu

@thedolphin5428 5 лет назад

How come the container ship didn't have lifeboats?

@johnmurrell3175 4 года назад

She was not a container ship it was a bulk cargo carrier. As below lifeboats cannot be launched above a certain angle of heel and with the ship rolling would have been smashed against the side as the ship rolled.

@briancaldwell283 4 года назад

There be Men here!

@homefront3162 4 года назад

I am American, I need subtitles 🤨

@rnli 4 года назад

Try RU-vid's subtitle button on the toolbar below the video

@colintraveller 5 лет назад

Curious Q Did the Capt of that Cargo ship know he was heading into a storm ? . And with the cargo which was loosely stored ?? that under such conditions will affect the ballast of the ship . Due to the design of the hold . Your Documentry did state that the cargo shifted due to the storm . It was a situation waiting to unfold .... That being said that crew has more guts than the current generation of SJWs etc .. Imo the entire crew should have been awarded the George Medal ( The Maltese People got it ) ..as with the crew of the Solomon Browne R.I.P.