FAILED TO START At 9.15 p.m. on the following day, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a small motor boat appeared to have broken down between the North pier and Wreck buoy, and the crew were waving for help. Two minutes later the life-boat Tynesider, which had just returned from an exercise, was launched into a smooth sea and moderate westerly breeze. The tide had been rising for two hours. The three men in the motor boat had been trying to start their engine for some time and because of the freshening breeze and late hour they willingly accepted a tow up river to a safe mooring.

The life-boat returned to her station at 10 p.m..