
RNLI lifesaver shortlisted for Pride of Britain award in charity’s 200th year
One of the most highly decorated coxswains in the 200-year history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been shortlisted for a prestigious Pride of Britain award.
Hewitt Clark is one of only three living recipients of a gold medal for gallantry, the RNLI’s highest recognition for bravery, along with Brian Bevan and Keith Bower.
During his 35 years of service as a mechanic and coxswain, he also received three bronze medals and a silver medal.
Hewitt joined Lerwick Lifeboat Station in 1965 aged 20 and was instrumental in helping crew save 319 lives.
He was nominated for the This Morning Emergency Services Pride of Britain award on behalf of the RNLI, in recognition of the charity’s 200th anniversary this year.
He said: 'I joined the RNLI in 1966. I had retired at 55. Life is a lot quieter these days but it wasn't always like that.'
Speaking of the rescue of the Green Lily, he added: 'I told the captain on the radio you must get your crew off now. If she hits the rocks you will lose your lives.
'I was quite confident we could take that crew off but there is always the risk of things can go wrong, but if you don't have confidence in yourself, then you're in the wrong job.
'I wasn't scared. The adrenaline has taken over. I was concerned that I couldn't rescue the people.
'I was really proud to be able to do it, but we don't do it for medals. We do it because that's the job we chose to do.'
Initially joining Lerwick Lifeboat Station in Shetland as an apprentice mechanic, Hewitt went on to work as a full-time mechanic before becoming coxswain in 1979.
In 1983 he was awarded a bronze medal for rescuing three people from a yacht. His second bronze came in 1989 for rescuing three people from a fishing vessel. In 1993 he received his third bronze medal for his leadership during the rescue of six people from a fishing vessel.
Hewitt was then awarded a silver medal in 1995 for outstanding seamanship when he helped rescue 64 people from fish factory ship Pionersk.
Most notably however, Hewitt was awarded a gold medal for gallantry for his pivotal part in the rescue of the Green Lily.
On 19 November 1997, battling storm force winds and enormous waves, Hewitt led his Lerwick crew in the successful rescue of 15 people aboard the 3,000-ton cargo vessel. Tragically, HM Coastguard winchman Bill Deacon died during the rescue.
Hewitt retired in 2000, but still helps the current Lerwick Lifeboat Station volunteers using his own boat as a casualty vessel in training exercises.
The winner of the award will be announced on This Morning on Friday 18 October.
Notes to editors
· Video of the rescue of the Green Lily, the Green Lily Memorial and the wider RNLI, as well as images of Hewitt Clark, can be downloaded here.
· More information about the rescue of the Green Lily can be found here.
· More information, imagery and videos on the RNLI’s 200th anniversary can be found here.
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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