At 11.45 p.m. on 26th June, 1967, a message was received that a sick man on board the motor vessel Mercurius H of Rotterdam needed medical attention. The life-boat Lloyd's II with a doctor on board was launched at 12.12 a.m. in a light easterly breeze and a smooth sea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boat met the vessel two miles north of Ilfracombe and the doctor was put aboard. After examiningexamining the patient the doctor decided that he should be taken ashore for hospital treatment.

The sick man and the doctor were embarked and the life-boat returned to the outer harbour where an ambulance was waiting to take the man to hospital.

The life-boat arrived at 12.40 a.m. on 2yth June and was rehoused at 2.10 a.m..