VOLUNTEERS with Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI responded to a May Day call for help while on an exercise.
The crew’s bank holiday training was interrupted by a distress call.
The call was made by mobile phone by the two-man crew of a small motor boat which had lost power from its engines.
The RNLI Lifeboat from Burnham-on-Crouch was launched at 6pm to the call out.
The problem was caused by a large wave flooding the boat’s power unit.
The vessel, from Great Wakering, was adrift off Foulness Shore.
The volunteer crew on the Atlantic 85 reached the stranded boat at 6.20pm and were supported by a crew from Essex Police Marine Unit.
The Lifeboat and Marine Unit crews battled choppy conditions and a 12 knot wind to set up a tow on the motor boat.
The vessel was taken back to Burnham-on-Crouch Yacht Harbour without further incident, landing an hour after the call was dispatched.
The two crew members were reported to have suffered slightly from sea sickness but were otherwise unharmed.
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