CHILLED SURVIVORS AFTER a white flashing light had been seen off Margate, Kent, at 12.54 a.m. on 4th October, 1971, the life-boat North Foreland was launched.

After travelling a mile and a half towards the flashing light the life-boat at 1.26 a.m. came alongside the dinghy and took a man and a woman aboard. They had been drifting helplessly for more than seven hours since their outboard engine broke down and lacked adequate means of signalling for aid.

Both survivors were very cold and the man was so chilled that his right hand clasped to the gunwale was crushed when the life-boat went alongside. The dinghy was taken in tow and brought into Margate harbour, where an ambulance awaited the injured man. The lifeboat returned to her station at 1.50 a.m..