HM Coastguard in dramatic rescue mission as grounded boat 'in risk of tipping' near Fleetwood Marina
“We made the decision to remove the crew to shore as a matter of urgency.”
The crew of a sailboat that ran aground in Fleetwood had to be urgently rescued when the vessel began to list.
The boat was turning into Fleetwood Marina when it became stranded on sandbanks - not an unusual occurrence, even for experienced sailors.
The crew were happy to remain onboard waiting for the returning tide but when HM Coastguard went to check on the situation, they noticed it was increasingly listing towards the trough of the channel with a real risk of it tipping fully.
A coastguard spokesperson said: “We turned out to check on the safety of the vessel and the crew and they were content to say on board and await the returning tide.
“However as the tide ebbed and we got a closer look it became apparent that the vessel was increasingly listing towards the trough of the channel.
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“We made the decision to remove the crew to shore as a matter of urgency.
“To do that, we needed to first deploy across mud and then across water to bring the two crew and one dog back safe and preferably clean and dry, which is exactly what we did.
“Later we attended again to ensure they completed their return safely.
RNLI Fleetwood crew launched D-853 'Harbet', to standby the stranded vessel until it refloated on the incoming tide.
The yacht was fully afloat by 8pm and was escorted to Fleetwood Marina by the inshore lifeboat.