A Shrewsbury-born Royal Navy serviceman is to receive a national heroism award for his part in an 11-hour battle to save the lives of two people stranded at sea.
Sub-lieutenant Julian Williams, 37, has been invited to St James’ Palace on Wednesday, June 4, to receive the Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy after saving a lifeguard and swimmer trapped in a North Cornwall cave last July.
The rescue involved more than 100 people and three lifeboats. Rescuers spent all night searching and were only able to find the pair, New Zealanders Shane Davis and Renee Potgieter, when Mr Davis saw the floodlights of the lifeboat and swam to one to get help.
Mr Williams was winched down by cable from a helicopter and once in the cave spent 20 minutes in the darkness searching for the missing female.
Eventually he found Miss Potgieter at the back of the cave and carried her on his back to the entrance, where they were met by two RNLI lifeguards.
Mr Williams, who is based in Cornwall and trained at Britannia Royal Naval College, was a member of a Royal Navy Search and Rescue crew.
In recognition of their efforts the crew were presented with the Breitling Award for Aviation Heroism at a ceremony held in Washington in March. He said: “This has been a perfect end to my flying career.”
Jean Williams, his mother, who lives in Monkmoor, said: “I am really proud of him for what he did.”