At 8.37 p.m. on 30th July, 1966, it was noticed that a motor boat one mile northnorth- west of Cape Cornwall had fired a distress rocket. The life-boat Susan Ashley was launched at 8.45 in a strong north-westerly wind and a very rough sea. It was three and a half hours after low water. She proceeded to the motor launch Kathleen and took off one of her crew. The life-boat then escorted the casualty to St. Ives bay, where the St.

Ives IRB met them and saw the Kathleen to a safe anchorage while the life-boat returned to her station. The IRB took the casualty's crew ashore where a car was waiting to take them to their homes. The life-boat arrived back at Sennen Cove at 3.30 a.m..