193. Manic Sunday: Dai Chant

RNLI 200 Voices

It was anything but a day of rest – a legendary St Davids Coxswain on his greatest test

For local fisherman Dai Chant, volunteering on the St Davids lifeboat was perhaps inevitable. On 26 February 1989, the Mayday call came in for his most dangerous shout – to lead the rescue of four fellow fishermen, as their trawler Stephanie Jane dragged perilously towards South Bishop Lighthouse.

Coxswain Chant takes us out into the boiling seas and rocky islands off the Pembrokeshire coast. From screaming winds to eerie silence as the lifeboat was submerged, we hear about the teamwork it takes to save lives in a violent storm. Awarded a Bronze Medal for his command of the rescue, Dai explains why the skill of his dependable crew made it a medal ‘for the whole boat’.

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI  

Interview by Adventurous Audio

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls  

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200