Tynemouth, Northumberland. — At 11.27 on the morning of the 7th of August, 1955, the Sunderland coast- guard telephoned that the Souter light- house had reported that a small boat could be seen drifting off Souter Point.

Sixteen minutes later the coastguard stated that two people could be seen on board. At 12.9 the life-boat Tynesider was launched, with the second cox- swain in charge, in a very heavy swell.

A moderate north-easterly gale was blowing, and the tide was ebbing.

The life-boat found the local sailing dinghy Gwen two and a half miles off Whitburn, but there was nobody on board. She towed her to the harbour and reached her station again at 2.30.

Floating bottom boards in the dinghy had been mistaken for exhausted men.

—Rewards to the crew, £8 8s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 4s..