BARROW lifeboat volunteers saved a yacht from sinking having rescued it after it ran around near Haverigg Point.

Volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution launched their all-weather vessel at 11.43am yesterday, after taking a call from the Liverpool Coastguard. 

Because of the tide the journey was around 14 miles, and the crew had spotted the trapped vessel by 12.20pm.

Haverigg Inshore Rescue team were already on scene under observation by the Millom Coastguard.

The 60-foot yacht, with seven people on board, got into difficulty on its way to Northern Ireland.

With waves at the scene estimated to be around 13 feet high, Barrow Coxswain Shaun Charnley decided it was too dangerous to evacuate the boat.

Instead, the team connected a tow line to the yacht’s anchor, using their powerful Grace Dixon lifeboat to pull it clear and into deeper water.

They then faced a long tow back along the west coast to Walney Island in 10-foot waves, planning to put the vessel into emergency RNLI mooring at Roa Island.

But as the boats rounded Walney Lighthouse, the crew were told a passenger was injured.

Deputy 2nd Coxswain, Dave Kell, and crewman Adam Cleasby, boarded the yacht, where they found the female in the living quarters below decks. Having fallen and injured her back, she was treated with pain-killing gas and

placed on a stretcher.

But while treating her, Mr Kell realised sea water was flooding into the yacht fast enough to sink it.

Unable to close the sea cocks letting the water in, the team transferred a pump from the Grace Dixon to stem the flow.

The tow was then able to continue to the Barrow Port to take the patient and passengers ashore and arrange a hull inspection and repairs for the damaged boat.

The lifeboat returned to its station at 5.10pm.