Hundreds of people are alive today thanks to the efforts of search and rescue (SAR) teams from the Westcountry.
At RNAS Culdrose, near Helston, in Cornwall, the SAR service has just celebrated its 60th anniversary with many crews winning honours for their exceptional bravery during that time, including:
In 1968 pilot Lieutenant D Blythe was awarded the MBE for his work rescuing a lighthouse keeper from the Longships lighthouse off Land's End.
In 1979, Lt J Grayson received the Air Flying Cross for his part in the rescue of dozens of people from that year's Fastnet yacht race, the largest ever peace-time rescue.
In 1985, the rescue of the Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon and crew from the yachts Drum England and Mr Cube earned Aircrewman L Slater the George Medal.
In 2004, for the numerous rescues of people caught in the flooding at Boscastle, Lt Cdr M Ford received the Air Flying Cross and Aircrewman R Yeomans received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
In 2007, for his part in the rescue of the crew from the stricken MSC Napoli in the English Channel, Aircrewman J O'Donnell received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
In North Devon, SAR operations are based at Chivenor, which although it is run by the Royal Marines was originally an RAF base, and home to A Flight of the SAR 22 Squadron.
In 2010 Chivenor's Search and Rescue carried out 336 rescues and 338 in 2009.
Chivenor celebrated the 70th anniversary of the RAF's Search And Rescue Force in 2011.
Some of the flight's notable honours include:
Sergeant Eric Smith awarded a George Medal for his actions in November 1962 when he helped rescue eight people from a ship which ran aground at Land's End.
For their part in the rescue at Boscastle in 2004, Sergeant Mario Testa and Sergeant Peter Thompson received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air.
Flight Lieutenant Mark Dennis was awarded the personal Commendation of the Commander-In-Chief of Royal Air Force Strike Command.
