RNLI crew rescues fishing boat

Members of the RNLI’s allweather lifeboat crew from Anstruther were called to deal with a fishing vessel which got into difficulty.

The boat had been having issues with its engine around a mile off the coast of St Monans and was drifting in worsening sea conditions as a strong wind was picking up.

The alarm was raised at around 5pm on Monday and the Anstruther crew were on the scene within 15 minutes.

A tow was set up and the stricken vessel was safely brought back into Pittenweem harbour at around 5.45pm.

Coxswain Michael Bruce hailed the quick thinking of the fisherman who recognised there was a problem and called for assistance.

He said: “Although this shout was to assist a local fisherman who has great knowledge and experience of the sea, sometimes things happen outwith our control and it is essential that you know how to get help.

“If you are ever at sea and get into trouble, no matter how experienced you are, call the Coastguard and ask for help.”

Due to tidal constraints the lifeboat was moored in Pittenweem so it could remain on service.

While the crew waited for the tide to come in, it took the opportunity to run home and eat its (by then cold) dinners, before returning to the station at 8.15pm to recover the lifeboat and take it back to Anstruther in readiness for its next call.