Fleetwood, Lancashire.—At 7.45 Oft the night of the llth of January, 1951, the Formby coastguard reported that the motor cruiser Thorium, of Liver- pool, laden with 600 tons of limestone, had wirelessed from near the Lune Buoy that she had a dangerous list.

At 8.10 the life-boat Ann Letitia Russell was launched in a very rough sea with a strong west-south-west breeze blow- ing. She found the coaster west of the Fairway Buoy, and accompanied her to the Fleetwood Channel. But the Thorium was sinking; so her skipper beached her on the Lighthouse Bank.

The life-boat then rescued her crew of seven, landed them at Fleetwood harbour and reached her station again at 9.45. The Thorium later drifted across the Channel and capsized; and at the request of the harbour master the life-boat put out again at 12.45 next morning to report on her position.

Nothing was found in the heavy seas and intense darkness; so the life-boat returned to her station by 2.15. The master and owners thanked the life- boatmen.—Rewards, £21 11s..