Southend-on-Sca, Essex - At 10.50 a.m. on I2th February, 1967, attention was drawn to a small fishing boat, with an angling party on board, reported to be in distress offCanvey Point. The life-boat Cecil and Lilian Philpott, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 11.3 in a moderate east south easterly wind and a choppy sea. It was three hours after low water. She found the motor launch Puffin on the sea wall at Canvey Point.

The life-boat could not get in close to her, so she fired a line across the launch and then started to tow her off. The Puffin immediately began to sink and the attempt was abandoned. The launch's crew were not in danger as they could walk ashore.

The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at i p.m..