Whitby lifeboatmen battled against gale force winds and waves up to 16ft to recover two men from the water.

The crew onboard the RAF Sea King helicopter also showed no regard for their own safety as they dramatically rescued the woman and flew her to hospital.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Witnesses have commented on the brave actions of the Whitby Lifeboat crew and the helicopter crew, both operating in very challenging circumstances.”

Roy Weatherill, Whitby RNLI lifeboat’s operations manager, said: “The lifeboat launched very quickly and the crew did an absolutely magnificent job.

“The guys tried to give mouth-to-mouth and first aid, that was their priority until the paramedics took over. They are naturally very upset.”

Station Mechanic Glenn Goodberry was one of those onboard the Whitby George and Mary Webb lifeboat which was operating in atrocious conditions.

Mr Goodberry tried to warn the boats’ occupants of the danger they were in.

He said: “Myself and Roy Weatherill were in the operations room when we saw the vessel going past the station towards the harbour. I tried to contact the boat three times over the radio to warn them about the conditions at sea. When I got no response I went to prepare the boat to launch.

“We were all in the station and launched almost instantly, on the way out we were alerted by the coastguard that there were two people in the water. None of us saw the boat go over. Somebody said they saw the blue canvas roof that covered the back of the boat come off after the boat was hit by a wave.

“Sea conditions were very, very bad. Waves were breaking over the bow of our boat. One of our lads got washed down the side of the boat by a large wave. The rails at the back of the boat kept him from going overboard.

“The recent weather conditions, the heavy rain over the last few days coming down the river, combined with the strong wind, made conditions terrible.

“Phil (Botham, second coxswain) had to hold the boat steady so we could get the casualties out of the water. We pulled two men out of the water just outside the harbour wall.

“They were both very ill and in very bad conditions. The coastguard alerted us to the fact there was a third body in the water on the other side of the East Pier. We knew at this point the helicopter was just moments away and it was felt that we could preserve life with the casualties on board so the decision was taken to return to the base.

“The casualties were given CPR until paramedics arrived to take over.

“We could not have reacted any faster and the crew worked brilliantly in very difficult conditions. Everyone is pretty shaken and upset but this is what we train for.”