Two fishermen found after major search off Plymouth

The fishing boat broke down and became lost in the fog off the Eddystone, Plymouth. The search involved six RNLI lifeboats, a rescue helicopter and the survey ship, HMS Echo.

Fishing boat rescued by Plymouth RNLI
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The two fishermen were found after their vessel broke down and become “lost in fog” off Eddystone, Plymouth.

The search and rescue operation lasted nearly 10 hours, and involved six RNLI lifeboats, a rescue helicopter and the survey ship, HMS Echo.

Initially the Plymouth Lifeboat was launched at 03.45 on 28 May after the fishermen reported, via mobile phone, that the 18 foot boat had broken down.

After a search in “extremely poor visibility”, the lifeboat returned to station, where the crew was given further information by the coastguard.

The lifeboat was relaunched, along with crews from Looe, Salcombe and Fowey, and the coastguard helicopter based at Newquay.

The emergency services were eventually alerted to the position of the fishing vessel after it was spotted by a yacht around seven nautical miles south west of the Eddystone.

Plymouth RNLI towed the vessel back to shore.

A spokesman for the Plymouth Lifeboat Station said: “The lifeboat searched around the Eddystone in extremely poor visibility, but as there was no further information available the lifeboat was stood down.”

“Shortly after arriving back in Plymouth, the coastguard received further information and the lifeboat relaunched, along with lifeboats from Looe, Salcombe and Fowey and the coastguard helicopter from Newquay,” continued the spokesman.

“A huge area was searched and multiple radar contacts investigated, eventually the small vessel was spotted by a yacht in a position approximately 7nm SW of the Eddystone.”