HELICOPTER AIDS RESCUE At 9.30 a.m. on i2th February, 1965, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the motor vessel City of Waterford of Dublin, six miles southwest of St. Catherine's Point, was on fire and that the crew of nineteen were taking to the boats. The life-boat The Earl and Countess Howe proceeded at 9.43 and a doctor was embarked en route at Totland Pier. There was a moderate southwesterly breeze and a smooth sea. It was low water. The life-boat was informed by radio that two ships in the vicinity of the City of Waterford would pick up the crew. A further message was received that the German ship Jacob Becker had picked up three of the crew who were suffering from extensive burns. Two of these men were taken off by helicopter and the Jacob Becker then steamed towards the fife-boat which drew alongside and put die doctor and the motor mechanic aboard to render first aid. The injured man was transferred to the life-boat and conveyed to Yarmouth where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital.

The City of Waterford was taken in tow by the frigate H.M.S. Lizard and a naval fire fighting vessel dealt with the fire. The fife-boat returned to her station at 1.15 p.m..