A RESCUE craft suffered extensive damage when it went aground in gales off the Suffolk coast on Friday night.The RNLI all-weather Tyne lifeboat from Lowestoft was launched just after 9.
A RESCUE craft suffered extensive damage when it went aground in gales off the Suffolk coast on Friday night.
The RNLI all-weather Tyne lifeboat from Lowestoft was launched just after 9.20pm to rescue the fast rescue craft of the offshore support vessel Putford Apollo when it went aground in gales at Ness Point.
Five minutes after launching they reached the 33ft vessel, which was stranded on the end of an old jetty.
In rough seas with winds gusting about 45mph, the three crew were safely rescued after repeated approaches by the lifeboat.
The craft was later reportedly blown on to rocks by a severe gust and badly damaged before being craned away on Saturday.
Capt Richard Musgrove, Lowestoft lifeboat operations manager, said: “In my opinion, this was a courageous rescue in the best traditions of the RNLI.
“Coxswain John Fox and his crew displayed courage, determination and skilful seamanship. The lifeboat was working in very shallow water.”
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