Solent anglers towed to safety by Cowes lifeboat
Two men and a boy on a fishing expedition in the Solent yesterday (Saturday) caught more than they bargained for, resulting in their motorboat having to be towed to safety by Cowes RNLI lifeboat.
Their six-metre boat not only had problems with the engine but also began to drift and take on water at the stern. To add to the trio’s concerns, one of their number had diabetes and carried no medication.
The lifeboat launched just after 4 pm and found the drifting boat near Norris Buoy, east of Cowes Harbour. The diabetes sufferer was given glucose, and the boat was towed to Trinity Landing.
A trainee helm, Annie Simkin, was at the controls, under the supervision of Mark Harker. The lifeboat returned to station at 5.10 pm.
Eventually the Hamble lifeboat, which also responded to the emergency, towed the boat across to the River Itchen in Hampshire, where it had originated.
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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