Gary Meaker, 14 year old son of a Customs Officer, dashed a mile-and-a-half on his cycle to give the alarm when two women, two children and two dogs were in danger of being cut off by the rising tide at Hartland on Sunday.

Soon afterwards all were lifted to safety by a rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.
Gary, who lives at Mill Hill, Hartland, was on a cycle ride when he saw the danger to visitors Mrs Kear, of Osterley Park, London, who had with her her baby and a 10-year-old daughter, and to Mrs Wakely, also staying at Hartland Quay Hotel. Together with the dogs they were on the beach.
The boy dashed to Coastguard Cottages at Stoke form where the helicopter was summoned. In the meantime the Hartland Cliff Rescue team mustered on the top of the cliffs in case they should be needed. But in two lifts the helicopter deposited the whole party on the top of the cliffs and none was worse for the experience.
Praise for Gary came later from a coastguard. ‘He thought very quickly and deserves praise for his prompt action’ said the officer.
The photographs show the helicopter making the rescue from the beach near Hartland Quay Hotel and the arrival of one of the party and her dog at the top of the cliff with the helicopter just moving off. Station Officer Hale and Coastguard Lewis are also in the second picture.
Gazette article dated 17 November 1967