Driver saved from sinking digger Helensburgh - Scotland South Division Helensburgh's Atlantic 21 carried out an unusual rescue on 29 May 1989 when a survivor was safely landed from a mechanical digger which had become bogged down with a rising tide.

The lifeboat had been alerted by the Coastguard at 1711 when the digger became stuck in mud off Port Glasgow, where had been working on an old timber pond.

The Atlantic covered the 7.5 miles to the scene in a little over a quarter of an hour, but by the time she arrived only the cab and the tips of the shovel were showing above the incoming tide.

Working her way carefully between the old timber verticals of the pond the lifeboat was able to rescue the driver and land him at nearby Port Glasgow..