Droughty Ferry, Angus. At 4.30 a.m. on 3ist May, 1964, the police informed the coxswain that a man who was swimming in the Tay, 300 yards off Broughty Castle, appeared to be in difficulties.

An empty rowing skiff was seen a quarter of a mile further upstream. Inshore rescue boat no. 17 launched three minutes after receiving the call in a gentle south-easterly breeze and smooth sea.

It was two hours before high water. The swimmer was rescued by the inshore rescue boat and at the coxswain's house was given a change of clothing and a hot drink. Aged 15, he had escaped from an approved school at Montrose and had stolen the skiff to cross the Fife. At the request of the police the coxswain took the youth to Newport and the inshore rescue boat returned to her station at 4.41..