A BOOK featuring a selection of first-hand accounts of some of the RNLI's most dramatic rescues has been released in paperback.

Surviving the Storms, which sold more than 18,000 hardback copies last year, recounts 11 of the charity's 'most remarkable' rescues from the past two decades.

One of the featured rescues is written from the perspective of Poole RNLI volunteer Dave Riley, who was a crew member onboard Eastbourne RNLI’s Mersey class lifeboat when it launched in gale force conditions in October 2002 to go to the aid of two people onboard Paperchase, a 33ft yacht which was battered by 50 mph winds and massive waves.

Dave said: "That night is one I’ll always remember. As we arrived at the yacht’s location I could see the waves hitting it and one person clinging to the mast. They were in real danger.

"The coxswain of the lifeboat had to make some rapid decisions as we were also batting breaking seas."

Working under the command of coxswain Mark Sawyer, the Eastbourne lifeboat had launched in darkness and into breaking seas as the yacht was hit by waves and taken off course into the shallows.

As events unfolded, things went from bad to worse as the yacht started to sink and the couple on board were washed into the sea.

One of the volunteer crew, Dan Guy, risked his own life and found himself in the water tethered only by his lifejacket harness as he held onto the skipper to save his life.

Dave said: "We fired a line over to the yacht, only for it to start sinking a short time later, throwing two people into the water.

"Thankfully, both people were recovered onto the lifeboat, cold and shaken, but otherwise unharmed."

"I’m proud to see this story featured in the book alongside so many other incredible rescues by the RNLI’s lifeguards and lifeboat crews right across the UK and Ireland."

Eastbourne lifeboat coxswain Mark Sawyer later receive a Silver Medal for Gallantry and Dan Guy, a Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

The paperback, which has a recommended retail price of £9.99, is available to buy now.

As well as being available to order online from Amazon and Waterstones, it is also available on Kindle, Apple Books and as an audio book.