A 41-year-old man whose courage and skill saved the life of a teenage girl was given a bravery award yesterday.

Michael Farline was among six rescuers honoured at a ceremony in London.

The awards, hosted by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, celebrate outstanding sea rescues.

Mr Farline, from Filey, North Yorkshire, led the lifeboat rescue of the teenager and a second woman in August last year.

The pair had been swimming at Reighton Sands, an area of strong tidal streams and undertows, when they got into trouble.

Helmsman Mr Farline was presented with the Emile Robin Award for outstanding rescue by a British ship.

It took two attempts to get the girl into the boat and required the effort of the entire crew.

They were then able to pick up the other woman.

During the rescue, the lifeboat was spun around, grounded on a sandbank and nearly swamped by dangerous seas.

Admiral Sir Peter Abbott, vice-president of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, said Mr Farline's actions saved the girl's life and probably also that of the other woman.

The four-man crew of Rescue 131, RAF Boulmer, were also honoured.

They saved a seriously ill man on board an oil rig support vessel 150 miles off the North-East coast in December last year.

Those involved in the rescue were Flight Lieutenant Andrew Shenton, 33, Flight Lieutenant Andy Doyle, 32, and Flight Sergeant Paul Mills, 39, all from Alnwick, Northumberland, and Flight Lieutenant Dieter Booth, 35, from Swarland, Northumberland.