The RIB,
a small rescue craft belonging to the Tug 'Towing Diamond'
anchored four miles off shore, was attempting to return to it's
mother vessel when she suffered engine failure and failure of the
hand held VHF radio. Luckily the Tug had seen the RIB set off and
had kept her in sight within the Tug's spotlights and, knowing the
RIB was drifting without radio communications, called Yarmouth
Coastguard for assistance.
Yarmouth Coastguard tasked the RNLI lifeboat from Lowestoft and
RAF rescue helicopter 125 on exercise in the region to the scene.
A Pan broadcast by Yarmouth Coastguard brought assistance from
vessels in the area. The US Airforce helicopter also responded to
the Pan broadcast and diverted from its mission to the area where
the men were last seen drifting. The seven crew on board the
helicopter, all wearing night vision goggles, were able to swiftly
locate the two men on the RIB from a distance of no less than six
miles and then guided the lifeboat to the two men on the drifting
vessel that were recovered and returned to 'Towing Diamond'.
Yarmouth Coastguard Watch Manager, Andrew Emery commented,
"The US Airforce combat search and rescue helicopter is
extensively equipped with aides designed for treacherous
circumstances, the flight's Lieutenant Colonel said of the search
using the night vision goggles 'we could see as though it were
daylight'. We were very pleased to have such assistance available
to us on this occasion, the two men could have been drifting for
quite a while longer if the helicopter had not been so close at
hand."
