Two members of a Royal Navy search and rescue team have been nominated for an award following a mission which saved the life of an injured yachtsman – the third time the pair have been singled out for their efforts.

The names of LA Graham Hatch and POA David Rigg, of 771 Naval Air Squadron, were put forward for the Vodafone Life Savers Award by the squadron’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr David Cunningham for their efforts in a rescue which lasted more than seven hours.

On October 29 last year the two men, based at RN air station Culdrose in Cornwall, were called out to assist a lone yachtsman more than 80 miles south-west of the Lizard peninsula – the stricken mariner had fallen in stormy conditions and requested immediate evacuation as he had suffered neck and spinal injuries.

The squadron’s on-call Sea King helicopter, which operates under the call sign Rescue 193, flew through appalling conditions to rendezvous with the yacht, and winchman Graham Hatch was lowered on to the pitching vessel.

In 40ft waves, which caused him acute seasickness and the risk of being thrown from the boat at any moment, Graham found the casualty in a tiny space below deck and placed him in the recovery position.

A second crewman from the helicopter, winch operator David Rigg, was needed to help stabilise the yachtsmen – but stability was in short supply as David was sent swinging wildly beneath the helicopter by a sudden squall as he was lowered towards the yacht.

He managed to grab the deck, but a huge wave submerged him and he was forced to make a second attempt.

That ended with another dunking as the flight observer, Lt Paul Dingley, acting as winch operator, was forced to drop David in the sea to literally damp down the dangerous swinging motion.

David was winched back into the helicopter to check on his condition, but although visibly shaken, he insisted on going back down for a third attempt, which was successful.

The two Navy men, now detached from the Sea King, worked hard to get a spinal board to the injured yachtsman, but the cramped cabin meant they could not get him on to a stretcher.

All they could do was ensure he was safe and as comfortable as possible while they awaited the arrival of a lifeboat from St Mary’s in the Scilly Isles, which transferred all three of them ashore, seven hours and thirty minutes after the helicopter was alerted.

Lt Cdr Cunningham said: “Throughout this rescue, Rigg and Hatch demonstrated exceptional professional skill and selfless disregard for their own safety in extremely trying conditions.

“They performed in the very highest traditions of the Service and are richly deserving of being nominated for a 2004 Life Savers Award.”

The other two members of the squadron – known as the Ace of Clubs – who carried out the rescue that day were pilots Flt Lt Jon Everitt (RAF exchange) and Lt Claire Donegan.

POA Rigg and LA Hatch have already received RNLI Inscribed Vellum and the BIH/MCA Billy Deacon Trophy, the latter having been presented at a recent ceremony by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Ally Steven, of Vodafone UK, said: “Rescue 193’s rescue efforts played a critical part in helping save a life, and we are delighted LA Hatch and POA Rigg’s vital roles have been recognised in these special awards.

“Their actions are a reminder of the brave men and women working in our emergency services whose dedication and courage we all too often take for granted.”

The closing date for nominations is Friday June 25, after which a panel of judges, including Carol Smillie, Claire Sweeney, Simon Weston and Jane Asher, will have the difficult job of selecting the ten most inspiring examples.

The ten winners – to be announced later in the summer - will be invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street In November to be congratulated by Prime Minister Tony Blair, and will later attend a “glittering star-studded event” at the Savoy Hotel in London, where they will receive their awards.

The awards were launched by Vodafone UK last month to honour “the unsung heroes behind Britain’s most remarkable lifesaving rescues”, and are intended to highlight the contribution made by mobile phones in such incidents.

There is still time to nominate a lifesaver – individuals or crews from the emergency services or members of the public.

Nomination forms are available at www.vodafone.co.uk/lifesavers or by telephoning the organisers on 0870 902 3333 or by emailing lifesavers@comms.aspectgroup.co.uk