TWO LIFE-BOATS STAND BY DUTCH MOTOR VESSEL Padstow, Cornwall, and Appledore, Devon. At 8.47 on the morning of the 15th December, 1962, the coastguard informed the Padstow honorary secretary that the motor vessel Nimrod of Groningen had been anchored off Bude with engine trouble since the day before, waiting for a tug to take her in tow. The life-boat crew were alerted, and at 11.24 it was decided to launch the life-boat.

The maroons were fired, and the lifeboat Joseph Hiram Chadwick put out at 11.45 in a west-north-westerly gale and a very rough sea. The tide was ebbing.

The life-boat shipped a considerable amount of water on leaving harbour, which caused a partial failure of the radio-telephone. She made for the position given and found that the Nimrod had dragged her anchors and had drifted three miles south-west of Higher Sharpnose. Her master was asked if he wished to be taken off, but he declined, saying he would wait for a tug.

The life-boat stood by until she was relieved at ten o'clock the next day by the Appledore life-boat Louisa Anne Hawker, which had put out at 5.45.

The Padstow life-boat returned to her station, arriving at one o'clock. The Appledore life-boat continued to stand by until the motor vessel Milo arrived.

At two o'clock a line was passed from the Milo to the Nimrod, but this parted.

Lines were connected five times, but they parted each time. Finally at 3.30 on the morning of the 17th December the Milo succeeded in taking the Nimrod in tow towards Swansea in weather which was by then improving. As soon as the Nimrod's master indicated that he no longer required the life-boat to stand by, she returned to her station, which she reached at 8.15. A helicopter took off but was unable to help. A letter of appreciation was received from the owners of the Nimrod..