Select a region
Tributes have been paid to Peter Bougourd, described as "the bravest of the brave", after his death at the age of 89.
Mr Bougourd was one of the lifeboat crew praised for their heroics during the Bonita rescue.
He supported the RNLI for around 25 years as a volunteer both at sea and on the land.
A keen fisherman, and fishmonger by trade, he also served his island as a Deputy for nearly 20 years.
He was first elected in 1985, serving St Sampson's until 2004.
Pictured: Deputy Peter Roffey paid a simple tribute to his former political colleague via Twitter.
Mr Bougourd was married to the late Annie and had three children, five grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren.
His own father had been killed during the bombing of the White Rock in June 1940, prior to the Occupation. Mr Bougourd was evacuated as a schoolboy shortly afterwards.
He died on Monday, 24 April and his family are planning his funeral, with details to be announced in due course.
The beloved family man routinely risked his own life while serving on the island's lifeboat, most notably during the Bonita rescue of 1981.
It remains one of the RNLI's proudest moments with the national charity using it as an example of their work describing it as an "incredible rescue mission".
Guernsey's lifeboat at the time was the Sir William Arnold, with Michael Scales the coxswain.
Mr Bougourd was among the crew who helped to rescue 29 people from the stricken cargo ship. Two men lost their lives in the tragedy.
All of Guernsey's lifeboat crew returned home safely and were awarded medals for their gallantry a few months later.
Along with Mr Scales and Mr Bougourd the crew included Second Coxswain Peter Nicholas, Mechanic Robert Vowles, and crew members Alan Martel, Peter Bisson, Richard Hamon and John Webster.
Pictured: The 'gold medal' crew of December 1981, who went to assist the Bonita as she listed in hurricane force storms in the English Channel. Peter Bougourd can be seen to the left on the back row.
The lifeboat crew responded to a mayday call from the Bonita at lunchtime on Sunday 13 December 1981.
The 8,000-tonne Ecuadorian cargo ship was carrying fertiliser from Hamburg to Panama when she was caught in a hurricane in the Channel. It caused her to list heavily to starboard and was unable to right herself before losing power.
The children and wives of the Captain and First Engineer were on board along with the crew, engineers and an electrician.
Pictured: A rescued crewman is taken off the Sir William Arnold in Brixham. Peter Bougourd can be seen to the bottom left of this image. Picture credit: Herald Express.
The RNLI’s volunteer crew launched at 13:23 to support the work of Royal Navy helicopters which also went to help the Bonita.
The rescue took many hours and saved the lives of all the women and children on board and the majority of the crew.
The two men who died had suffered injuries during the hurricane and subsequent rescue.
The Bonita sank at 02:00 the following morning.
All images and videos provided to Express by the RNLI.
Former Coxswain Michael Scales: My memories of the Bonita rescue
WATCH: Remembering the RNLI's Bonita rescue 40 years on
The 'Guernsey Hero' now educating others in London
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.