88. Saved from the Deep at 11: Howard Goddard

40 years on from the helicopter crash in which he lost his family, Howard Goddard remembers the man who helped save six lives, including his own

In 1983, 11-year-old Howard Goddard lost his entire family when, in thick fog, the helicopter they were flying in crashed into the sea off the Scilly Isles. Howard reveals how he and five others survived the crash, how the St. Mary’s RNLI lifeboat crew found them, and what the RNLI means to him and his two sons.

Matt Lethbridge, the highly decorated coxswain of the lifeboat that day, sadly passed away in 2010. After the crash, Matt gave Howard a special gift. 40 years on from the tragedy, it’s the first thing Howard sees when he gets up each new day.

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI

Interview by the RNLI's Darren Crew

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200