Signal gets cut off as man calls rescue team for help as 16ft speedboat sank at Brancaster Golf Club

RLNI Wells were called yesterday by a man who was stuck on his speedboat that was sinking off the coast from Brancaster Golf Club, but the mobile phone call was cut off mid conversation.

Once the rescue had started the man had managed to swim the 100m to shore but contacted the coastguard to say that his 16ft speedboat was still out there and had sunk.

The lifeboat was on scene at 7.10am and met with the owner of the boat on the beach. The man was wet and cold but well, and once he had confirmed the position of the sunken boat, the lifeboat took him to the slipway at Brancaster Staithe, where he was met by the waiting Coastguard team.

The RLNI Wells lifeboat was on scene half an hour later and quickly located the sunken speedboat.

The stern of the speedboat was on the seabed and the bow was floating just above the water.

The speedboat was a danger to shipping where it was so it was decided that the crew would get a line on the speedboat and towed it to the foreshore.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Hardy, said: "The crew all acted with great speed and diligence on hearing there was a man in the water; thankfully the emergency phone at Brancaster Golf Club meant that the skipper could quickly make the call to the Coastguard to make known he was safe.

"This prevented unnecessary searching and a sense of relief that all was well. I am very proud of both lifeboat crews, as they demonstrated superb skill and seamanship today; it is what we train for."