Medal awarded to Napoli rescuer

PO Jay O'Donnell showed "great courage and determination"

A Cornwall-based Royal Navy officer who helped rescue a container ship's crew in a severe storm has been awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Petty Officer Jay O'Donnell was winched down from an RNAS Culdrose helicopter to a liferaft to save the 26 crewmen of the stricken MSC Napoli.

The ship had been holed and it was taking on water in the English Channel.

The ship was later grounded off the east Devon coast before being broken up by salvagers.

When they arrived at the scene on 18 January, the helicopter crews from RNAS Culdrose knew they were in for a tough operation.

O'Donnell remained undeterred and calm throughout Medal citation

Spray whipped up by gale-force winds lashed rescuers and crewmen as the life-raft was thrown about by huge waves.

One helicopter broke two lines before a winch line was attached to the raft.

Donning full diving kit, PO O'Donnell, was lowered to the sea before swimming to the life-raft.

He then spent 90 minutes securing each of the crewmen to a line so they could be winched to the helicopters.

PO O'Donnell's citation read: "Despite the appalling conditions he displayed great courage and determination.

"O'Donnell remained undeterred and calm throughout."

Helicopters struggled to get a line to the raft in severe conditions

PO O'Donnell, 33, from Camborne, said after his investiture by the Queen at Buckingham Palace: "It was difficult to get on (the life-raft).

"Both crews did really, really well. It was a massive team effort.

"It's really nice to be recognised.

"It's not something you think about when you go to do it. You just focus on the job."

The rescued crew were taken back to RNAS Culdrose suffering from hypothermia, extreme vomiting and sea-sickness.