BARGE'S CREW RESCUED IN HEAVY SEAS Humber, Yorkshire. At 6.45 on the evening of the 15th December, 1962, the coastguard reported that a red flare had been seen about one mile north-west of the coastguard station, and at 6.58 the life-boat City of Bradford III was launched. There was a strong gale blowing from the west, the sea was very rough, and the tide was flooding. The life-boat made a search and found the sailing barge Will Everard of London, with a crew of three, a mile and a half north-west of Spurn lighthouse. She was bound for Hull laden with wheat.

Her steering gear had broken down, and as she needed a tug the life-boat called for one by radio-telephone. The tug Guardsman reached the position two hours later but could not come close to the barge because of the shallow water and heavy seas. The wind was increasing and the barge soon started to pound the seabed. The life-boat approached her starboard quarter and the crew of the Will Everard, one of whom was carrying a dog, jumped aboard. The life-boat took the rescued men to Grimsby, arriving at six minutes after midnight.

She remained at Grimsby because of the state of weather and was taken back to her station on the morning of the 17th..