Two boats ran aground in low tide, stranding people overnight and leading to a dramatic rescue.
Image source, GY and Gorleston RNLI
The coastguard has rescued 18 people, including a six-month old baby, two dogs and a rabbit, after two cruisers ran aground in low tide.
The mission involved two lifeboats and a helicopter on Breydon Water near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Eleven people on one vessel were winched by helicopter, while six others and the animals were taken off another, Hemsby lifeboat service said.
Low tides forced all to spend the night on the water until the morning rescue.
No-one needed hospital treatment, the lifeboat services said.
Image source, GY and Gorleston RNLI
According to Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI, and the Hemsby lifeboat, the alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon.
Both cruisers had become stuck on the mudflats on the River Yare due to an ebbing tide.
Local marine engineers notified the coastguard after trying to reach the occupants of the hire boats.
The low tide meant a rescue of the holiday-makers was not immediately possible, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI service said. The mission began at 04:50 GMT on Sunday.
Image source, GY and Gorleston RNLI
Image source, Daniel Hurd
Hemsby lifeboat service used its flat-bottomed vessel, used to navigate shallow waters of the Norfolk broads, to carry out a rescue of six people.
Three men and three women, one of whom was pregnant, a six-month old baby as well as the animals, were taken off one stricken cruiser.
Coxswain Daniel Hurd said the cruiser’s engine had broken and the boat was listing (leaning), meaning “those on board were in some danger”.
“I’d say they were extremely lucky,” said Mr Hurd, when asked about the level of danger they were in.
The group, from Hastings in Sussex, were taken to a nearby yacht station. They had been on a weekend break in Norfolk.
A rescue helicopter was despatched by Humber Coastguard after it became clear crews would be unable to reach the 11 people stranded aboard the second cruiser, due to the tides.
People were winched two at a time and taken in groups of six and five to a nearby rugby field.
Hemsby Lifeboat remained in the area on standby in order to keep the waterway clear while the helicopter winch took place.
Image source, GY and Gorleston RNLI
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