A family of four were rescued on Easter Sunday after their 18-foot motorboat broke down and started to drift near the fairway buoys off the coast of Exmouth.

An RNLI inshore lifeboat reached the stranded boat finding two adults and two children onboard after the gearbox failed while they were enjoying the bank holiday break.

The family had no VHF radio onboard and called for help from a mobile phone.

The rescue crew towed them safely back to a mooring at Shelly Beach and the grateful family gave a cash donation to one of the volunteer crew.

But Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Kevin Riley warned that boaters need to take precautions before setting out on the water.

“Mobile telephones are not ideal at sea as there is often insufficient coverage and also limited range. A marine VHF Radio is ideal along with rescue flares,” he said.

The RNLI runs a free Sea Safety assistance programme to advise people on the equipment to carry and where to get the necessary training.

For more information call 0800 328 0600 or search the RNLI website.

Image: RNLI rescue boat