18 January 2012

- Certificates of Excellence have been awarded to two watchkeepers at Penzance NCI following an incident that occurred in May 2011. David Pryor and Peter Mitchell were awarded the certificates by station manager Brian Ellis in recognition of watchkeeping duties carried out on 24th May 2011 when they spotted two men fighting in a rowing boat near Penzance harbour.Having spotted the two men fighting in the boat shortly before 10.00am, the watchkeepers immediately reported the incident to the coastguard and the police were alerted.

One man, described as a foreign national, was subsequently arrested by police. The second man was recovered from the water and airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The foreign national, a Lithuanian, eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for six years.

Penzance Station Manager Brian Ellis commented:

“David Pryor and Peter Mitchell acted in the best traditions of NCI, spotting, plotting and reporting with speed and accuracy. This was watchkeeping at its best and I applaud them for their diligence and attention to detail”.