Two North Shields fishermen were rescued by the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew from Tynemouth last week when their trawler became stranded after her nets tangled in the propeller.
Tynemouth RNLI all weather lifeboat was requested by Humber Coastguard to go to the assistance of the 18m trawler Luc after her skipper called for help when the codend of her nets wrapped round the vessel’s propeller, leaving the Luc stranded 15 miles out to sea, due east of the Tyne.
The RNLI lifeboat with six volunteer crew reached the Luc 35 minutes after launching then attached a tow rope, before taking the stricken vessel and her two crew to safety at her home port of North Shields.
Deputy Coxswain, George Jasper, said: “We quickly located the Luc as her skipper had given an accurate position. After making sure her crew was in no other danger we got our tow rope attached and towed her back to North Shields fish quay.
“We had some difficulty manoeuvring the vessel alongside the lifeboat for the final part of the tow as her rudder was stuck hard over but that’s what we train for so it was no real problem.”
As the lifeboat refuelled, the crew were contacted by the skipper of another trawler, Success III, that she was towing yet another disabled trawler, Avocet, into the Tyne and requested to escort the pair as they made their way to North Shields fish quay. The lifeboat followed them until they were safely docked then returned to station at 1pm.
Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station said: “The crew’s training and experience made the rescue of the Luc pass without further incident.
“When they returned to North Shields the Luc’s skipper gave the RNLI volunteers a box full of fish and prawns as a thank you, which was well received indeed!”
