RNLI Wells and Hunstanton lifeboat crews support Brancaster Harbour missing person search

Wells inshore lifeboat joined HM Coastguard this morning to assist a missing person search in Brancaster Harbour

They were locating the whereabouts of a 64-year-old male with medical concerns who had not responded to calls from his family whilst staying onboard his yacht in the harbour.

The Hunstanton lifeboat had been tasked earlier to the incident but was unable to get into the harbour as there was insufficient water on the ebbing tide.

Wells inshore lifeboat arrived offshore at 1.30am but an hour later was still in the outer harbour area, as lack of water prevented the boat from getting any further to where the yacht was thought to be moored, and was stood down and took low water recovery in Holkham Bay.

The search then switched to the Coastguard team who walked out from shore, and at 3.30am found the yacht. The male was safe onboard but had gone to bed not realising his mobile phone was out of charge.

The inshore lifeboat was back on service again at 4.40am.

Lifeboat operations manager, Chris Hardy, said: "We are very relieved that this incident had a happy conclusion. We are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to respond.

"Any concerns people may have regarding possible incidents on our coastline are always a valid reason to phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard."