Humber, Yorkshire - At 4.8 a.m.

on 16th February, 1970, the coastguard reported that red flares hadbeen sighted in the Haile Sand Fort area. The life-boat City of Bradford HI was launched at 4.21 in a fresh north westerly wind with a rough sea. It was two hours after high water. At 5 a.m. the life-boat came up with the converted ship's lifeboat Bluebird II with three people on board. She was dragging her anchor and was in danger of going ashore. Her engine had failed. A line was secured and she was taken in tow to Grimsby. The life-boat returned to her station at 12.35 p.m.

This service was carried out in extremely cold weather. On arrival at Grimsby the life-boat carried a J in. wide coating of ice on mast, stays, and superstructure, while the fuel oil had frozen solid in the tank of the Bluebird II..