Three Port Isaac lifeboat volunteers have received RNLI medals for gallantry after they faced rough and dangerous seas as they tried to rescue a father and son swept into the sea from the cliffs off the Cornish coast in April 2012.

The medals are the RNLI’s highest accolades.

Launching their inshore lifeboat into extremely challenging conditions, helmsman Damien Bolton, 32, will be given a Silver Medal for Gallantry and crew members Nicola-Jane Bradbury, 40, and Matthew Main, 30, will each be given Bronze Medals for Gallantry for their part in the rescue.

They managed to pull one of the men to safety. The other was recovered to the lifeboat, but, tragically, did not survive.

Watch the video below