Rod MacDonald called his bronze medal a "nice recognition"

Rod MacDonald, 37, from Newquay, will be among those being presented with medals by the Duke of Kent, president of the RNLI, after the charity's annual general meeting in London on Thursday.

Speaking ahead of the presentation, Mr MacDonald, originally from Sydney, Australia, modestly described his medal as "a nice recognition".

The lifeguard was wearing just a pair of shorts and had no shoes on when he clambered down rocks to a gully at Fistral Beach, Newquay, to save a swimmer last October.

Sinking yacht

The man, who was about 50 metres from the shore, was being thrown against the rocks by strong waves and eventually lost consciousness.

Mr MacDonald reached the badly injured man after swimming through the breaking surf without any rescue equipment.

He then gave him first aid before an air ambulance and paramedic arrived.

Also receiving awards will be helmsman Phil Murray, 44, who will receive a bronze medal for his role in rescuing two teenage girls and a man who were washed off a causeway in Alderney, Channel Islands.

Second coxswain Sean Marshall, 29, will also pick up a bronze medal for helping to save the lives of three men and a woman after their yacht got into difficulties in atrocious weather near Plymouth last May.

Mr Marshall, who has worked as a coxswain for two years, said his father was presented with the same medal, also by the Duke of Kent, as a coxswain 25 years ago.

Coxswain Mark Sawyer, 40, and mechanic Daniel Guy, 23, are to be honoured for their parts in saving the lives of two crew, who were washed off their sinking yacht near Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne.