The 37-year-old has been a lifeboat man for nearly 12 years and up until the night of the rescue at Atwick he had only had the odd bump and bruise.

Four crew – Adrian, Duncan Stewart and Mark and Luke Crozier – were called to rescue a woman who was having a fit on the beach at 3am on Monday, April 21.

Mr Trower said: "Because of the weather conditions I knew it was going to be difficult. I was on the helm and we were the only people who could get to the person, the helicopter was an hour away.

"I dealt with the person and brought her round and put her on oxygen."

The coastguards were unable to get to the woman because the cliff face is mud.

She was eventually airlifted and taken to Hull Royal Infirmary and the crew started to set off back

He said: "The tide was coming in quickly and I remember heading the boat back to sea.

"The boat has to be in a certain amount of water for the engine to run. I started the engine and was looking forward when a humongous wave filled the boat with water."

Straight after they were hit again and thrown out of the boat.

Mr Trower said: "As it threw me I hit the engine, Duncan landed on top of me and I was sandwiched between.

"We all crawled to the beach and I was struggling to breathe. I thought I was winded and then I realised it was something more serious.

"I was gasping for breath and I couldn't let the guys know what was wrong with me."

They made their way to higher ground and the other crew looked after Mr Trower as well as the boat.

After refuelling, the helicopter came back to pick Mr Trower up.

Mr Trower said: "Luke was winched up to the cliff and from that point I don't remember much else."

When he arrived at Hull Royal Infirmary, the crash team were ready. He had his clothes cut off and then he was X-rayed.

"I had broken two lower ribs, which had punctured my lung. They put a lung drain in straight away," said Mr Trower

Because his blood pressure dropped, he was then taken to Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.

He spent four days in hospital and should have stayed in longer but he said he really wanted to get home, so as soon as he had the drain out they let him leave.

Mr Trower, who is a roofing contractor, has an appointment with a specialist next week and is hoping he will then be allowed back to work.

He said: "I'm still on painkillers for the ribs and internally I'm just about healed but I've got a few bruises on my body."

As well as being a lifeboat man, he is a patrol boat officer for the council.

He is also a member of the flood rescue team for the lifeboat and has missed an exercise in the Lake District because of his injuries.

Mr Trower said: "I would like to thank friends and family and Bridlington lifeboat crew for being great."

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