ISLAND SEARCH Southeiid-on-Sea, Essex. At 1.58 a.m.

on lyth February, 1964, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a man had gone to repair his boat moored off Two Tree Island and had not returned.

There was a light breeze from the east by north with a slight sea. The tide was flooding. The life-boat Elizabeth Elson, on temporary duty at the station, launched at 2.23 and with the boarding boat in tow made for the island where a search was made in the boarding boat.

The cabin cruiser Bon Chance was found with nobody on board. It was decided to leave the boarding boat on the island and return in daylight to continue the search. The life-boat arrived back at the station at 4.20 and after she had been rehoused four members of the crew returned to continue the search in conjunction with the police and a helicopter.

The body of the man was eventually found and picked up by the helicopter.

The crew returned to the station hi the boarding boat at 11.20..