Four lifeboats in search for missing anglers Lifeboats from Whitstable, Margate, Sheerness and Walton and Frinton were involved in a massive search for a man and his 12-year-old son after they failed to return in their 14ft boat following a fishing trip.

The alarm was raised at 2050 on Saturday 21 May when the boat was reported overdue, having left Herne Bay at 0930.

An area of more than 1,000 square miles was searched by the lifeboats, coastguards a helicopter and even a Nimrod from Kinloss in Scotland.

After several hours search in the dark the operation was stood-down, resuming at 0500. After two hours of searching hope was fading but, at 0720, Margate lifeboat spotted the small boat drifting some five miles to the north west of Margate.

The casualty had broken down the previous afternoon, and although the man had been able to restart the engine they ran out of fuel off Margate just before dusk and had been drifting since then.

Margate lifeboat landed the two occupants, the son suffering from cold and seasickness, and they were taken to hospital.

Coastguards quoted in the local press were critical of the vessel, describing it as a river craft, and the lack of lights, flares, radio or back-up propulsion..