During fine weather, with a smooth sea, on the 4th April, the Coastguard reported shortly after midnight that a message had been received from the North Goodwin Light- vessel stating that a steamer was ashore on the Sands. The Life-boat Charles and Susanna, Stephens, in tow of the harbour tug, proceeded to the Sands, and there found the s.s. Mydrecht, of Rotterdam, stranded close to the North- East Goodwin Buoy. A London tug also reached the distressed steamer at about the same time as the Life-boat.

The Life-boat went alongside the vessel, and the master accepted the crew's services to try and save her.

Six men were placed on board, and ropes were then passed between the stranded steamer and the tugs. At 1.30 A.M. the tugs commenced to tow and, on the flood tide, they succeeded at 2.30 A.M. in towing the vessel clear.

The Life-boat and harbour tug then returned to Ramsgate. The Mydrecht at the time of the casualty was bound from Rotterdam to Constantinople in water ballast, but the master stated that he would return to Rotterdam to examine his vessel before proceeding on his voyage..