Mourners heard about the bravery of Alan Massey

Shops, caf�s, offices and supermarkets in the north Wales town all closed during the service.

The body of Mr Massey, aged 37, was found on 27 April, three weeks after going missing with his friend, RNLI coxswain Keith Allday.

They died after laying moorings in the harbour on 5 April.

Tributes were paid by the rector Kevin Horswell, the RNLI and fellow crew members.

The congregation at St John's Church, Barmouth, also heard how Mr Massey had rescued a young girl washed out to sea on her airbed last summer.

His coffin was draped in the RNLI flag and the cortege went through the town before his cremation in Bangor.

Mr Massey and Mr Allday, aged 54, had been carrying out routine work in a 15ft dinghy, which was found capsized outside Barmouth's harbour wall.

The body of harbourmaster Mr Allday, a father-of-five, was found 24 hours later at Fairbourne beach.

Investigations are being carried out by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and Gwynedd Council.