Crew Commander Simon Le Maistre, Firefighter Andy Le Marquand and Firefighter Jack Luce were this week awarded a Chief Officer’s Commendation for their successful rescue on 26 May.
Nearby café staff raised the alarm after spotting the lady slipping from rocks into the sea in the area, breaking her wrist in the process, with her husband jumping in to save her.
Both were then washed up into the cave.
After an emergency call from Jersey’s Coastguard, Jersey Fire and Rescue Service launched its Inshore Lifeboat from Grève de Lecq around 16:30.
Battling what were described as “challenging” conditions, including wind and a two-metre swell, they “steamed around” to Plémont, where the couple were facing a “fast upcoming tide”.
Due to poor reception, all communications had to be relayed through Guernsey.
Accessing the couple was not easy – the lifeboat had to undertake a tricky veering down manoeuvre, using the anchor and line and powering astern into the narrow cave entrance.
Once holding in position deep in the cave, one of the crew swam in with life jackets, rescuing the couple and bringing them onto the lifeboat.
Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown awarded the heroic crew with their commendations this week in recognition of the seamanship, teamwork, communication, and observation skills involved in the rescue.
“There is no doubt their professionalism, decision making, and exemplary teamwork meant that they were able to save lives,” he said.
“In the best traditions of the Fire and Rescue Service, the crew performed this rescue at calculated but nevertheless considerable risk to themselves.
“I am immensely proud of them all and they are a credit to the Fire and Rescue Service.
“Well done.”
