Saturday 7th August

Both Boats were launched to "Freedom" a 15 metre motor cruiser and well known charter vessel in Poole. It had been reported that the boat had run aground possibly sinking,

The stricken vessel was north of Brownsea Island near to the Fuel Barge and it appears to of hit something submerged in the water, the visibility was poor and there was a sea mist.

When the ILB arrived on scene there was just the skipper onboard the other casualties had been evacuated by the Salterns launch boat and taken ashore to safety of Salterns Marina. There were 5 adults and 5 children.

The ILB crew battled hard with the salvage pump trying to help the skipper to safe the vessel but the ingress of water was too fierce, it was apparent that there was a large hole in hull.

By the time the ALB arrived on scene it was a lost cause. The ILB took the skipper to Salterns.

There was a substantial amount of diesel and oil that had escaped in the surrounding area and the lifeboat crew recovered two gas canisters which they stowed safely on the ALB.

The sunken vessel was marked with a warning buoy,

IILB Crew
Paul Singleton - Helmsman, John Vine, Richard Skerman - Crew.

ALB Crew

Mark Cole -2nd Coxswain, Andy Elton - Mechanic, Mike Hallard,Chris Foote, Zoe George and Anne Millman -Crew