At 9.20 p.m. on 5th October, 1968, the coastguard reported that a small boat was firing red flares two miles from the lookout. Ten minutes later the life-boat Tynesider was launched in a calm sea and an ebbing tide. At 9.55 she found the motor boat Merlin with a crew of three, one mile from Tyne piers. Her engine had broken down. The life-boat took her in tow to safe moorings on the Tyne, and returned to her station at 10.55..