Solent Coastguard called out Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat on Sunday (June 27) to assist a motor cruiser who had fouled her engine with a rope.

The four people onboard the vessel called “Puffin” were transferred on to the lifeboat after the boat lost its engine and was drifting. There was a risk of cruiser hitting the rocks off Shanklin.

The Crew on the independent lifeboat towed the vessel back to it’s station and used the trailer that is normally used to recover the lifeboat to free the rope from engine.

The crew than gave the mariners a brew before sending them on their way.

Coxswain Mark Birch Coxswain said” It was a very unusual way but it was quicker to use the lifeboat trailer than it was to launch a diver into the water.