Lifeboat rescues crippled Lyme fishing boat

Crew members go into the water to free propeller after it became snagged on a mooring rope

Lyme Regis lifeboat crew went to the aid of a stricken vessel in danger of sinking just outside the harbour yesterday (Monday).

The fishing boat Little Shrub, with one man aboard, was crippled when a mooring rope became tangled with its propeller in choppy seas.

Lifeboat crewmen James Rice and Martin Croad spent some 20 minutes in the water trying to free the propeller.

The rope was finally untangled, and helmsman James Rice said: ”There is no doubt that the fishing boat was in danger of sinking if the mooring rope had not been released.”

Answering its first “shout” of the new year the lifeboat was launched at 3pm and had towed the fishing boat to the safety of the harbour by 3.45pm.