A FORMER lifeboat that saved 32 lives had to be rescued itself after getting into difficulty off Harwich.

The veteran ex-RNLI boat Sarah Ann Austin served the charity between 1937 and 1965.

But it was in need of assistance itself from one of the RNLI’s modern inshore lifeboats when it suffered a mechanical failure off Harwich.

Harwich RNLI’s volunteers were called into action for the 45th time this year as they launched their charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to the aid of the Sarah Ann Austin at about 6pm on June 21.

The call came after the UK Coastguard had received reports of a vessel anchored at the South Shelf Buoy, just off Harwich Green, after a mechanical failure.

Arriving on scene the volunteers were surprised to discover it was the ex-RNLI Liverpool class lifeboat, formally named by the Duke of Kent.

It was station at Blackpool Beach until 1961 when she entered the relief fleet.

One of the veteran lifeboat’s most memorable services was in 1939 when she took part in a service involving six lifeboats that was to earn her coxswain R. Parr the Silver Medal and mechanic Thomas Rimmer the Bronze Medal, after the pilot boat Charles Livingstone of Liverpool went aground at Ainsdale.

During the rescue attempt, two lifeboatmen were washed overboard, but recovered, and six of the pilots crew were rescued.

Recently purchased by Robertsons Boatyard, of Woodbridge, with the intention of offering bespoke group outings along the River Deben, the former lifeboat had been attending the Suffolk Festival of the Sea.

The volunteers of Harwich RNLI were able to establish a tow and proceed to Levington Marina, where the Sarah Ann Austin was placed on a floating mooring, and its crew of three were then transferred to shore aboard the Atlantic 85.

A spokesman for Harwich RNLI said: “While offering bespoke tours for up to 12 people, the new owners of the Sarah Ann Austin, also plan to use her to help raise funds for the RNLI, and in doing so this veteran of lifesaving will continue to save lives at sea by supporting the work of the current generation of lifeboats and their volunteer crews.”