The Exmouth RNLI inshore lifeboat, George Bearman was tasked at 5.46pm on 25 March by Brixham coastguard to rescue two men and a woman, in the river Exe. Their powerboat had broken down near Lympstone as daylight was fading.

The three-man RNLI crew, made up of experienced volunteers Ian Taylor, Roger Jackson and Robert ‘Tommo’ Thompson, launched seven minutes later. The casualties were located by the team at 6.25pm. The 23 foot boat was starting to drift in the tide after the gear box had failed. Crew volunteer Ian Taylor commented;

‘The casualties told us that the boat had been repaired that same day and they were taking it back to a mooring. They had called the mechanic for advice using a mobile phone, but with daylight fading they were advised to call us for help. It was lucky they called us out sooner rather than later.’

The charity’s volunteers towed the powerboat back to Exmouth docks, to safety at 6.50pm.

NB.  The emergency services, discourage mobiles at sea because they cannot be located by direction finder kit on lifeboats. A marine band radio is advisable.