A WOMAN was rescued by brave crew from the Windermere ferry after being knocked overboard from a sailing boat.

At approximately 1.30pm on Sunday, two crew members from the Windermere Ferry operated by Cumbria County Council, were involved in the recovery of a female sailing boat passenger who had been knocked overboard from her boat, by the boat’s boom.

Other sailing boats attempted to recover the lady but were unable to get close due to the wind.

The Windermere ferry stopped in the middle of the lake just after the incident happened and made verbal contact with the lady who was by now floating in open water in the lake.

The lady was asked if she required a life line to be deployed, but she declined and instead was able to swim towards the ferry lap board as the wind was pushing her towards it. The ferry’s lap board was lowered and two crew members pulled the lady to safety.

The lady was escorted to the passenger deck and the crew checked that she was unhurt. The Windermere Lake Warden was called and met her off the ferry on the Ferry House side of the lake. The ferry crew were able to provide this assistance as they initiated their Person Overboard procedure.

In a statement, staff from Cumbria County Council said it was grateful to ferry staff and members of the public for their assistance and speed in resolving what could have been a more serious situation.