PLANE crashes, seven-metre waves and crocodiles… all in a day’s work for two volunteer crew members of Dunbar’s RNLI, who have received long service badges.

Kevin Keillor and David Koch were both presented with badges marking 20 years’ service at the crew’s Christmas dinner.

Both men have served on the RNLI station’s all-weather (ALB) and inshore (ILB) lifeboats, with Kevin a former ILB helm who is now a deputy second coxswain on the ALB, while David is a currently a member of the shore crew.

Kevin, 37, who was 17 when he joined the crew, said: “It was something I always wanted to do, having spent time on fishing boats since I was 10 years old.”

He received a medal certificate for his part in the rescue of a couple from a yacht stranded 37 miles out to sea in a force eight wind and seven-metre waves in May 2009.

Creel fisherman Kevin was selected that night for his experience but even he was taken aback by the conditions.

He said: “We were faced with a confused sea on that shout – it was a wild night.”

Despite the treacherous conditions, the couple were rescued unhurt, but Kevin played down his bravery award.

“A thank you is good enough for me,” he said.

Meanwhile, David, a director for Dry Fusion Scotland carpet cleaning contractors, had not been a volunteer for long when he was part of the crew tasked to a report of plane crashing into the sea near to Torness Power Station.

The 48-year-old said: “When you hear that, you fear there are people in the water.

“It turned out it was a Tornado jet and the pilot and navigator ejected before it crashed but it was a scary moment before we discovered that.”

However, there have been more unusual launches, including heading to the middle of a street in West Barns.

The village had flooded when the Biel Water burst its banks and the crew were called to rescue people trapped in buildings.

David, who now helps launch the ILB and provides back up to the crew, said: “The water was up to our armpits so we had to help people out of their houses and there was a stable where jockeys and racehorses were in trouble.

“At one point, Kev shouted: ‘Watch out, there’s a crocodile behind you!’

“I turned round and, sure enough, there was a stuffed crocodile floating past!

“Then the fire brigade shouted for us to get in the boat because an electricity substation had flooded and they were worried we could be electrocuted.

“It was a frantic situation but we dealt with it.”