TEN coastguards have been honoured for their part in a dramatic rescue of 32 trapped diners that took place as hurricane- force winds battered the Hampshire coast.

Members of the Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team helped save the lives of couples enjoying a romantic Valentine’s Day meal when the restaurant was wrecked by the ferocious storm.

On Tuesday night they returned to the scene – upstairs of The Marine in Hurst Road, Milford-on-Sea, to receive the Chief Coastguard’s Commendation from the man himself.

Keith Oliver praised their bravery and dedication as he recalled the events of February 14 2014.

Speaking after he awarded the commendation, he said: “This really is to recognise the professionalism and determination of the Lymington Coastguard Rescue team in what can only be described as challenging circumstances.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, rocks crashed through the windows of The Marine and a huge tidal surge engulfed the ground floor.

Daily Echo: Storms of February 2014 - Milford on Sea

Terrified customers were forced to move upstairs and became cut off.

Meanwhile Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team was called to assist the Army, fire and rescue service and police rescuing casualties.

Two team members Paul Richman and Matt Renouf used their knowledge of the building to lead the rescue. Together with police they formed a human chain to pass the causalities downstairs while water surged below.

After emerging from the badly-damaged restaurant they waited for a break in the crashing waves before dashing across the car park and scrambling into an army truck that took them to Lymington Recreation Centre.

Paul Richman and his colleagues said they arrived to find the seafront road covered in shingle and huge waves crashing over the top of the art deco-style restaurant.

After leaving their vehicle they were pelted with shingle and battered by flying debris from nearby beach huts, most of which had been ripped apart. Standing on the same spot 12 months later Paul said: “It was quite a shocker.

“It took us a while to get into the restaurant because the door was all twisted and buckled and wouldn’t budge. Luckily we’d had a fundraiser there a few months earlier and knew the building really well.”

Paul added: “We kept them safely together and then brought them out two at a time. Most of them were quite calm but they didn’t really know what was waiting for them outside. The main thing is there were no injuries, which was amazing given the conditions.”

Matt, a 41-year-old father of three from Lymington, and a coastguard volunteer of seven years, said: “This was one we were not trained for. But we worked well as a team. We came up with a plan and got on and did the job.”