FOUR RESCUED FROM CONVERTED SHIP'S BOAT Newbiggin, Northumberland. At 2.54 on the morning of the 13th April, 1963, the coastguard informed the coxswain that a request had been received from the Blyth honorary secretary for the help of the Newbiggin life-boat to search for the converted ship's boat Piper of Blyth, which was missing with four people on board. There was a moderate south-westerly breeze and a moderate sea. The tide was half flood.

The life-boat Richard Ashley was launched at 3.20 and began to search.

A helicopter joined in the search at daybreak and shortly afterwards found the Piper twenty-one miles east-north-east of Newbiggin Point. The coxswain was informed and the life-boat made for the position. She rescued three men and the helicopter rescued the fourth. A message was then sent asking for an ambulance to await the return of the life-boat, as all the four rescued people were suffering badly from exposure.

The Piper was taken in tow, but after an hour she became waterlogged and had to be cut adrift. She sank later. The lifeboat reached her station at 9.20 and the rescued people were taken to hospital.

The Blyth and Cullercoats life-boats also searched for the missing boat..