Lowestoft, Suffolk. At 7.32 on the morning of the 7th of December, 1959,the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that distress rockets had been fired by the Liberian motor vessel National Fighter three miles south-east of Lowestoft. The life-boat Michael Stephens left her moorings at 7.45 in a south-easterly gale. There was a very rough sea and it was nearly low water.

The life-boat found the Liberian vessel, whose steering was defective, anchored close to Newcombe Sands. Her second anchor cable had parted, and the master was trying to manoeuvre the vessel in order to reduce the weight on the remaining cable, but being in ballast he was unable to do so. While the life-boat was standing by the motor vessel took a sudden sheer and parted her cable. Her master then found he was able to make headway to the east- ward by steaming stern first into the wind, and the life-boat stood by until the motor vessel was five miles off shore.

The life-boat then[returned to herstation, arriving at two o'clock. Rewards to the crew, £18 5s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 4s..