Safely ashore - two. Three weeks after the St Peter Port incident the 60ft fishing vessel Avalon II was in collision with a large tanker on 28 January, sinking while the Torbay lifeboat was on her way to the scene.

Her three crew took to a liferaft and were taken aboard the Arun class Edward Bridges (Civil Service No.37), and are pictured (left) landing at Brixham, where the MFV had been based.

Although all three men had been able to step into the liferaft without getting wet two of them appeared to be in a state of shock and were taken to hospital. (Photo Torquay Herald Express).