Powerless anglers get ride home on lifeboat
Two anglers caught more than fish out on the Solent this evening, leading to Cowes RNLI lifeboat going to their rescue.
First unwelcome catch was weed in the engine of the 21 foot Leona Dawn; then, now without any power, their boat was caught in a fast ebbing tide. As they drifted remorselessly westwards past Hamstead Ledge they urgently sought help from UK Coastguards.
The lifeboat responded to the call by launching at 5.34 pm. Eventually they found the fishing boat tied to a buoy off Yarmouth, rather than well on their way to the Needles.
It was decided that because of the tide it would be better to tow the crippled fishing boat into Yarmouth Harbour, and carry the anglers back to their home port of Cowes aboard the lifeboat.
When the lifeboat returned to station at 6.45 pm the crew brought with them a ‘thank you’ from the anglers: three fishes.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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