Thames Coastguard was alerted at 2:22 p.m. on 8 January 2000 by Port Control, London to an injured stowaway on the Maltese registered bulk carrier 'Theano K' anchored 3 miles off Southend.

The injured stowaway Joined the vessel in the Dominican Republic along with two other men; all three thought the vessel would take them quickly to the USA, instead they travelled to the UK via Guyana and were secured on board by the Master of the vessel for 30 days.

Thames Coastguard set up a medilink call to Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth and was advised to get the man, who has sustained a head injury, off the vessel and to hospital as soon as possible.

The injured man was said to be upset and distraught and as such could not be airlifted in the usual manner, as his demeanour would pose a risk to the aircraft. Instead Thames Coastguard requested the assistance of the RNLI lifeboats from Sheerness and Southend.

The lifeboat crews were able to take all three stowaways to Southend Pier where Police and Ambulance met them. The injured man was taken to Southend Hospital, his two friends taken into the care of the Police.

Thames Coastguard Watch Manager, John Mayston commented, "We would like to thank the RNLI for their assistance to the emergency services on this occasion; they were able to do the job quickly and professionally enabling this man to get the emergency treatment he needed."

The Immigration service was aware of the stowaways and, prior to the injury altering the situation, had plans in place to land the three men at Tilbury Dock upon the ship's arrival.