Engine room flooded THE COXSWAIN of Wells lifeboat was informed by HM Coastguard at 1412 on Friday November 20, 1981, that there was a possible casualty 2Vi miles north of Brancaster, and the coxswain immediately passed on to the station honorary secretary a request to anticipate a call. At 1425 the Coastguard confirmed that there was a definite sighting and asked that the lifeboat should launch. Maroons were fired and at 1439 Wells lifeboat, the 37ft Oakley Ernest Tom Neathercoat, launched from her carriage into the harbour under the command of Coxswain David Cox.

The afternoon was overcast and, in the rain, visibility was only moderate, A gale, force 8, was blowing from the north west. It was high water.

Ten minutes later the lifeboat cleared the bar and turned west, leaving the rough seas and heavy swell on her starboard bow as she set out at full speed, keeping inshore to reduce the effects of the adverse tide.

At 1510 an RAF Sea King helicopter reported that she was with the casualty, the motor fishing vessel Sarah K, whose engine room was flooded. The lifeboat continued on her course until she was off Scolt Head, at 1530, when she headed west north west for the fishing vessel's position off Woolpack Buoy.

Sarah K was sighted at 1542 and reached at 1613.

The wind was now north west, gale to strong gale, force 8 to 9, with rough short seas over the shoals. It was still raining with moderate visibility. Sarah K was lying bows south with her starboard quarter to the seas.

The lifeboat stood off as a second RAF Sea King helicopter lowered a pump on to Sarah K. At 1630, in the failing light, Coxswain Cox approached the fishing vessel to discuss the position with her skipper, who asked to be towed to King's Lynn. In the very rough weather, Coxswain Cox considered the casualty to be too large for the lifeboat to tow.

At 1724 Sarah K's large foremast broke and fell to starboard. As the helicopters had withdrawn, Coxswain Cox decided to go in and take off the crew. An attempt was made to go alongside the fishing vessel's port bow but, close to, the bow sheer was seen to be too great and the lifeboat stood off.

The next approach was made starboard side to the casualty's port midships, and it was made at a steep angle to avoid the trawl doors on the after port quarter. In the now total darkness two fishermen were snatched off as the boats rolled together and then the lifeboat cleared the casualty going full astern. Anotherapproach was made and a third man taken aboard. Again the lifeboat pulled astern and waited for the skipper to check the pumps. At 1737 the skipper signalled that he was ready and the lifeboat again went alongside and took him off.

As soon as the skipper was on board, Coxswain Cox informed the Coastguard that Sarah K was adrift, so that she was a possible danger to navigation.

At 1815, with the wind moderating to force 6, the skipper was put back aboard Sarah K to try to put down the anchor. By 1838 the crippled fishing vessel was anchored !3/4 miles west of Bridgirdle and her skipper back on board the lifeboat. About a quarter of an hour later Sarah K's after mast split and the lifeboat decided to return to station.

Passage was made back to Holkham Bay but, on arrival at 1931, the launching tractor broke down. The lifeboat lay off until repairs had been made at 2113.

By 2204 she was recarriaged and by 2305 she was rehoused and once again ready for service.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain David J. Cox, BEM. Medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Anthony T. Jordan, Motor Mechanic Albert Court, Assistant Mechanic Alan M.

Cox and Crew Members Albert Warner, Graham B. Walker, John R.

Nudds and John Belts..