‘People were still in their seats, and there was nothing underneath them’

When a cross-channel hovercraft with hundreds of passengers onboard crashed into the breakwater in Dover, the RNLI launched to the rescue

On 30 March 1985, Dover RNLI Coxswain Tony Hawkins was in the bath when maroons were fired. He leapt up to go to the aid of those aboard cross-channel hovercraft, the Princess Margaret, which had collided with the breakwater on entering the harbour.

Tony, who was Boathouse Manager at Dover RNLI when this interview took place, recalls how the hovercraft had a hole ripped into its side and that hundreds of passengers needed to be urgently rescued. Some were seriously injured, others were pulled from the waves suffering from cold and shock, and others were sadly missing.

All at Dover Lifeboat Station dearly miss Tony, who passed away in June 2025 aged 81. He dedicated 65 years to RNLI volunteering.

Interview by Jack Lowe of The Lifeboat Station Project