April 11 2016.


Newhaven crew member Mike Avenell has been recognised for his life saving work both on and off the lifeboat. Mike was amongst those presented with citations by the High Sheriff of East Sussex Mrs Juliet Smith at a ceremony held last month. 

The awards ceremony, which took place at St Margaret’s Church in Ditchling, was to acknowledge the outstanding, but often unsung, work carried out by volunteers and by the emergency services in the county.

In Mike’s case, it was in recognition of his lifesaving efforts in rescuing a young man, who had Downs Syndrome, from drowning in a swimming pool, and also for assisting an elderly man who had crashed his car at Exceat.

Newhaven lifeboat Coxswain Paul Legendre explained: "Our high standard of first aid training enables our volunteers to assist in medical emergencies in their daily lives ashore. Mike’s quick actions made the difference with the young man in the pool."


Pictured: Mike Tubb, Newhaven Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mike Avenell and High Sheriff of East Sussex Mrs Juliet Smith