Plymouth, South Devon - At 5.10 p.m. on 25th February, 1970, a report was received from the coastguard that a dinghy was drifting seaward four miles south of Downderry.

The life-boat Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse slipped her moorings at 5.30 in a fresh north westerly wind with a moderate sea. It was two hours after low water. At 6.35 she came up with a fibreglass dinghy, well down in the water, with the sole crew member baling out. The man and his craft were taken aboard the life-boat and put ashore at Looe. The life-boat left Looe at 7.50, and returned to her moorings at 9.45..