In the small hours of 27th November 1954 , LV90, the South Goodwin Lightship at the time was torn from her mooring by hurricane force winds and mountainous seas . At 01:15 , the crew of LV12 , the East Goodwin Lightship watched in horror as their sister - ship was swept past them , 6 miles to the north of their position . LV90 was swept onto the sands in Keller Gut and immediately capsized under the pounding from the waves . Her crew sought refuge in the galley and were trapped there when the ship capsized . One man , Ronald Murton , climbed out of the galley skylight and clung to the hull. An American search and rescue helicopter from RAF Manston was scrambled and in a piece of superb flying , the helicopter was able to pluck Murton from the hull . The American crew received bravery awards for their actions 27 November 1954.