An air-sea rescue helicopter crewman - now serving at RAF Benson - is to be honoured by Prime Minister Gordon Brown for bravery.

Flt Lt Iain Robertson was co-pilot on the rescue helicopter, off Grimsby, when the crew picked up three men who had been flung into the North Sea from their stricken yacht.

Two of the men survived, but one died.

The bravery awards were set up by Vodafone to honour unsung heroes.