Search success AT 1820 ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1987, Tyne Tees Coastguards were alerted by the mother of one of two men aboard the Hartlepool-based fishing boat Sea Fox that the vessel was six hours overdue at the east coast port.

Hartlepool's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat The Scout and the Teesmouth 47ft Tyne Phil Mead were launched and it was established that Sea Fox normally fished between Tees Fairway Buoy and Steetly Pier.

A beach search was also commenced by coastguard search companies, but as the weather deteriorated, with still nosign of the missing boat, it was decided to launch three other lifeboats, Sunderland's 47ft Watson William Myers and Sarah Jane Myers, Tynemouth's 52ft Arun George and Olive Turner and Blyth's relief 44ft Waveney class Wavy Line.

The Sunderland boat launched at 2059 to await instructions on the search area. At 2150 Coxswain Anthony Lee was asked to search up to 10 miles from the coast between the lines of latitude 54°50'N and 54°57'N.

The weather was overcast with frequent rain and snow squalls giving moderate visibility. The wind was southerly force 6 with little sea running in the sheltered launch position.

Proceeding at full speed, Sunderland lifeboat cleared the harbour entrance at 2155 to begin searching the designated area.

Two crew members remained on deck as lookouts at all times in the cold and wet, with relief watches set at 20-minute intervals.On the outside leg of the search zone, VHP contact between the lifeboat and Tyne Tees Coastguards was lost and messages were having to be relayed through Cullercoats Radio.

The search continued until 0145 on Saturday, March 7, when the Sunderland crew spotted a small light two miles east of Seaham Harbour, where the Sea Fox was found at anchor with a parted gearbox shaft.

The weather at the scene was heavily overcast, with sleet squalls and moderate visibility. The wind was a south south-easterly gale force 8/9, with rough breaking seas of up to 16ft. The casualty lay at anchor, pitching violently and shipping spray across her. The tide was setting north west at 3/t of a knot and it was five hours after high water.

The lifeboat ran in from the north west towards the starboard side of the Sea Fox, but on near approach, as the way was taken off, she was blown away. A second similar run was made, but again she paid off as way was taken off her. The survivors were too cold to help so again the lifeboat cleared astern.

A third run was made down the port side of the casualty from astern and as the two came together the survivors were grabbed aboard by the lifeboat crew before once more she was cleared astern. The casualty was left to the elements at 0210 and the survivors were taken into the after cabin with the heaters going and wrapped in blankets.

Full speed was made back to station in the now following seas and an ambulance was on hand to meet them as they returned at 0230. The lifeboat was rehoused, refuelled and ready for service at 0310.

Following this service a framed letter of thanks, signed by the Institution's chairman, the Duke of Atholl, was presented to Coxswain Anthony Lee of Sunderland in recognition of his skilful handling of the lifeboat in the prevailing conditions..