SINKING FISHING BOAT SAVED

Vessel recovered after stranded person on board rescued:

THIS is the dramatic moment RNLI volunteers raced to save a fishing vessel from sinking off the coast of North Wales.

The lifeboat from Abersoch was launched on Wednesday afternoon after reports that a fishing vessel with one person on board was sinking in the sea off the Llŷn Peninsula.

The stranded person on board the boat had been saved by a passing vessel as the boat began taking on water.

Lifeboat volunteers arrived on the scene and were able to salvage the boat before it sank to the bottom of the sea.

A spokesman said: “In a force four moderate sea, Abersoch crew were paged at 2.43pm to a vessel sinking in St Tudwals sound.

“Information was vague at first as it transpires the casualty phoned a friend on the beach, who relayed the information to Abersoch beach patrol and the UK Coastguard, who subsequently put out a distress for the vessel.

“The RNLI volunteer crew arrived on scene to find the fishing vessel had been sinking for over 45 minutes.”

They said the vessel which helped pluck the casualty from the boat had heard the distress signal and went to the scene to assist.

The spokesman added: “A tow was set up and salvage pump got to work in flushing the water out of the vessel.

“The vessel was towed to safety ashore and dried out at low water.

“The casualty was brought ashore safe and well.”