Brixham Coastguard received a call from the RSPCA at just after 12:00 p.m. on 27 December 2000, requesting some assistance with a ten tonne houseboat at Wilcove in Cornwall, which had fallen on its side and had become unsalvageable. There were two people on the vessel as well as their many pets.

Tamar Coastguard immediately went to their assistance and evacuated one and a half transit van loads of animals consisting of ferrets, chipmunks, birds, parrots, rats, gerbils dogs and cats. As a precaution 30 gallons of diesel have been pumped off the vessel.

It is thought that the vessel will fill with water on the next high tide this evening, which will unfortunately render the owners homeless.

Roger Brimacombe, Watch Manager at Brixham Coastguard said, "We have contacted the local Social Services to arrange temporary accommodation for the couple involved. The RSPCA are looking after the animals in the meantime. Tamar Coastguard has done a terrific job."