At 11.20 p.m. on yth August, 1967, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that there was a very sick man on board the trawler St. Lucia of Lowestoft 105 miles north-east of the Tyne and that a helicopter would lift him off at 5 a.m.

when the vessel was 45 miles away.

However, the weather forecast was very poor and as it was possible that the helicopter would be unable to fly it was decided to launch the life-boat and take out a doctor. The life-boat Tynesider left at 12.42 a.m. on 8th August with a doctor on board. There was a moderate south easterly wind and a corresponding sea. It was one hour before low water.

During the passage out the wind freshened to strong. The life-boat eventually came up with the trawler 45 miles north east of the Tyne. With some difficulty, the doctor was put aboard and after examining the sick man it wasdecided to keep him aboard the trawler and a message was sent that the helicopter would not be required. The life-boat reached her station at n o'clock..