News

Two lifeboats and an RAF helicopter were scrambled last night in a dramatic rescue when a 35ft yacht with four people on board got into difficulties in rough seas.

Just before 2.00am Dover Coastguard received a Mayday from the skipper of Chatham based yacht Spirit saying the craft had run aground on the Goodwin Sands.

The rescue services worked together to get a line to the stricken yacht before the vessel was flooded or broken up. All four aboard were rescued and the boat successfully refloated.

Frank O'Neil of Dover Coastguard said, "During this incident, the good training of both the skipper and the crew as well as following all the correct procedures during an emergency at sea made a significant contribution to this successful rescue. We received a comprehensive Mayday and all the information needed to get rescuers on scene quickly."