Eight people are alive today after the fast actions of two young lifesavers - their leader now hopes this will be recognised...

BRAVE members of the Hampshire based League of Venturers Search and Rescue team have been nominated for a top life-saving award.

Captain Philip Pearce Smith - known as Cap'n Tiffy to his crew - has put forward the coxswain, Tony Lascelles, and the youngest crew member, 13-year-old Francis Gallagher, for the Vodafone Lifesavers Award.

The teenage crew are more used to acting as a helping hand on the high seas - they tow boats to a safe harbour or pull boats off sandbanks.

But on August 31, 2003, the teenage members of the Knight Errant Venturer were responsible for saving the lives of no less than eight people in one afternoon.

Captain Pearce Smith explained: "They were on routine patrol in the Solent when they noticed a man waving from a motor cruiser.

"On coming alongside the man stated his engine room was on fire.

"We quickly evacuated two children aged four and six, a woman and two men."

Luckily two of the adult instructors happened to be ex-fire service staff and when they investigated they found a potential time bomb ticking away.

"They found a DIY board placed too close to the exhaust manifold. It had caught fire and to make matters worse there was a two-gallon plastic can full of petrol.

"The fire had reached the stage of explosive smoke - which a few minutes later, combined with the petrol, would have caused the boat to explode in a ball of flame.

"The skipper had an out-of-date fire extinguisher and a hand-held portable radio with a flat battery. Our firefighting equipment quickly doused the fire and the family was taken back to Cowes," he said.

No sooner had they drawn breath, than they came across their next potentially deadly incident.

"Later in the afternoon they came across a speedboat with a child and two adults which had broken down and was drifting into the Hurst Race.

"The very large outboard engine weighed down the stern and waves were lapping over the transom.

"There is no doubt it would have sunk but for our assistance," he said.

To round off the day there was another incident when a 30ft yacht lost its mast after a collision and had to be towed back to the River Hamble.

"Because no lives were lost, the incidents went unnoticed by the media - but there is no doubting that eight lives were saved that day.

"My nomination is for the coxswain, Tony Lascelles, and our youngest crew member, cadet Francis Gallagher, to accept on behalf of the whole crew," he said.

There are only days to go to nominate brave heroes who have saved a life in extraordinary circumstances, before entries to the Vodafone Lifesavers Awards close on Friday.

The Lifesavers Awards are open to anyone who has helped save a life during the past two years - the person can either be a member of the public or work in one of the emergency services, where crews can also be nominated.

It could be a domestic crisis or a national disaster - no matter what the circumstances, every life saved is of equal significance.

Ten winning National Lifesavers will be invited to London in November, where they will be personally congratulated by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Later, they will join a 300-strong star-studded audience at London's world-famous Savoy Hotel for a gala awards luncheon, attended by a host of celebrities.

Helping to launch this year's Lifesavers, Tony Blair said: "Bravery in the face of adversity requires a huge strength of will and we should all be eternally grateful for those who selflessly put others before themselves.

"Their fortitude is something that must never be undervalued and they are a true asset to this proud nation."

If you have first-hand experience of a life or death situation, where someone special has made a crucial difference, then telephone the organisers on 0870 902 3333 before Friday.

If your nomination is selected as a National Lifesaver, Vodafone UK will also invite you and a partner on an expenses-paid trip to London as VIP guests to attend the glittering gala awards luncheon, where you will also meet a host of celebrities.

Vodafone UK spokesman Ally Stevens said: "It is humbling to hear first-hand so many inspiring rescue stories - not only from emergency services but from ordinary people who, with no special training, acted on impulse and bravely risked their own life to save another.

"We are confident this year's awards will bring forward many more courageous and moving stories and give the unsung heroes behind them the national recognition they deserve."

Nomination forms are available by visiting www.vodafone.co.uk/lifesavers, by telephoning the organisers on 0870 902 3333 or by e-mailing lifesavers@comms.aspectgroup.co.uk