9-hour battle in 30ft waves to save stricken fishermen
RNLI heroes tow boat to shore after propeller snares
A BRAVE lifeboat crew battled against giant waves to save a stricken fishing boat with six men on board.
It took nine-and-a-half hours to complete the dramatic rescue mission in ferocious seas off the north coast of Scotland.
But late on Thursday night, the RNLI crew from Thurso, Caithness, towed the Wick-registered Sparkling Line back to the safety of Scrabster Harbour.
The creel boat had suffered a tangled propellor 28 miles west of the fishing port at about noon.
The lifeboat’s deputy coxwain Andy Pearson said it was “one of the toughest shouts” his crew had faced.
He said yesterday: “The waves were eight to 10 metres high. It was some of the worst seas I’ve encountered. It wasn’t the best of days, that’s for sure.
“They were getting pushed towards the shore and were only three miles off by the time we got to them.
“Any longer and they’d have been getting closer and closer, which would have made getting a tow rope to them more awkward.
“It was a hard operation for our coxwain Dougie Munro to keep control of the boat while watching out for the lads on the deck.”
The tow parted five times during the rescue as both vessels were battered by gale force winds and high seas.
Andy added: “Each time you have to put lads out on the deck is when there’s the highest risk of injury or worse happening.”