Volunteer coastguards honoured for bravery

In the last 15 years, university volunteers have been involved in almost 900 incidents involving more than 500 people. The six current university members – five staff and one student – have amassed between them 64 years of voluntary service. Last year, two students on their way to the Undergraduate Ball went to the rescue of a youngster who’d fallen off Castle Rocks. Their call for help was answered by volunteer Coastguards, several of whom were also members of university staff. Coastal Operations Divisional Commander Mike Bill presented Principal Professor Sally Mapstone with a certificate to mark the outstanding service of the men and women from the university who give up their time and risked their lives in the sea and on the coast around St Andrews.