Berwick RNLI rescue family after boat they were on breaks down

By Andrew Coulson
Published 10th Oct 2022, 10:24 BST
Updated 10th Oct 2022, 10:24 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Two lifeboats were sent out at the weekend to rescue six people – including three children – on board a vessel after its engines cut out.

Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI received a call from HM Coastguard at 12.37pm on Saturday to launch both the all-weather Mersey and the D-class inshore lifeboat to go to the aid of a broken down RIB.

Both boats made haste to find the RIB, which was about one mile north of the Berwick Pier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Berwick RNLI spokeswoman said: “On arrival, Coxswain Robert Frost and Helmsman Michael Avril assessed the situation. The owner of the RIB had mistakenly put the wrong fuel into the boat, which had caused the engines to cut out.

The boat was towed to safety.The boat was towed to safety.
The boat was towed to safety.

“Due to the engine failure and the risk of the RIB drifting into rocks or local shipping vessels, it was deemed for safety reasons to take on board the all-weather lifeboat two very young female children and their mother.

“The owner of the boat, with the father and son of the family, stayed on the RIB to help one of the inshore RNLI crew members John Campbell, who had climbed aboard the RIB, rig a tow-line to the all-weather lifeboat.

“Once the RIB had been towed to safety at the Carr Rock outside the lifeboat station, they were met by other lifeboat crew members and HM Coastguard and they all checked to see if everyone was alright.

“The mother of the family, who were on holiday from Kinross, said to us “we can’t thank you enough for bringing us back safely”.”