Dramatic Rescue As Trawler Sinks

The Salcombe RNLI all-weather lifeboat The Baltic Exchange III and her volunteer crew were launched on Saturday 1 September to a sinking fishing boat 17 nautical miles south west of Salcombe. 

At 4.22 pm Brixham Coastguard requested the launch of the Salcombe lifeboat to the 26 Meter Beam trawler, registered in Penzance. 

Other vessels were also standing by, including the cross channel ferry Armorique and the Maersk Partas. 

A search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also tasked and making way to the scene. 

Reports over VHF radio shortly after departure from Salcombe confirmed that the fishing vessels crew had taken to their life rafts. 

The Salcombe lifeboat arrived on scene at 5.40pm and contacted the coastguard to obtain information on the casualties. 

The rescue helicopter had winched all casualties to safety. 

The liferafts were still visible in the water. With the crew winched to safety, the lifeboat remained on scene because the sinking vessel still posed a serious threat to navigation. 

MV Mair a vessel from Trinity House (the organisation responsible for the safety of shipping and wellbeing of seafarers) relieved the Salcombe lifeboat of it's duties at 9.40pm and the volunteer crew headed home.