Sailors who saved crew of stricken yacht to be honoured with King's bravery award
Two sailors who helped rescue the crew of a stricken yacht in a storm in the English Channel have been honoured with bravery awards approved by the King.
Chief Petty Officer Stephen Froom and Able Seaman Alfie Hulme, from destroyer HMS Diamond, are among six Royal Navy personnel who have been recognised for their service.
The sailors battled terrible conditions – which saw one of the yachtsmen tossed into the Channel when their vessel broke down and began sinking in November last year – to not just save all aboard, but to get the yacht's engines running again.
The pair receive the King's Commendation for Bravery, announced in the latest Operational Honours issued by the Ministry of Defence and approved by His Majesty.
HMS Diamond's rescue – which is already the subject of a lifesaving award for the ship collectively – saw 54-year-old CPO Froom from Bristol lead efforts to restore power and prevent the yacht Zapopan from sinking off the Isle of Wight.
'I feel proud and humbled'
CPO Froom was the first on and last off the yacht, and helped rescue three of the five crew, before toiling with shipmates Lieutenant Commander Tom Leonard and Chief Petty Officer Giles Newbon to remove water and restart the boat's engines as the Zapopan pitched and rolled violently.
"I was initially embarrassed as I don't like the limelight," he said. "I feel proud and humbled to be recognised for something I perceive as just doing my job.
"I felt confident due to the training and experience I have. I viewed it as the job at hand, which I'd be tasked with and needed to be completed."
Able Seaman Hulme, who is now serving in the Gulf with a minehunter, was the coxswain of HMS Diamond's seaboat in the same rescue, using his experience operating the craft in the challenging conditions of darkness, heavy seas and strong winds.
Despite very little ambient light, he successfully manoeuvred the Pacific 24 boat alongside the yacht to get the rescue team safely aboard.
He then manoeuvred the boat to evacuate three of the petrified crew and when one fell into the sea was in position for the yachtsman to be quickly recovered.
AB Hulme made three trips between HMS Diamond and the yacht either to ferry the yacht's crew to safety or deliver specialists and equipment, remaining on hand until the last safe moment to return to his ship, all the while providing reassurance to his colleagues.
Four other naval personnel are also being honoured.
Leading Photographer Belinda Alker has been awarded a King's Commendation for Valuable Service for her work to support scientific research in both polar regions with the icebreaker HMS Protector.
Commander Oliver Ayers also receives a KCVS for his work on frigate HMS Montrose amid the pandemic to develop ways of operating with sailors who were Covid-positive, but not showing the symptoms, which enabled the crew to continue their patrol, leading to the seizures of illegal drugs and weapons.
Also decorated as Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) are Royal Marines Colonel Ed Hall and Captain John Punch.
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