Navy ship rescues fishing boat from smashing into rocks in Plymouth

A stricken fishing boat floating dangerously near rocks in Plymouth has been saved by Royal Navy sailors.

The crew of HMS St Albans stopped Lady Ellen from being caught on rock off Rame Head just outside Plymouth Sound on Wednesday.

The warship was training off the coast of Plymouth when it picked up Lady Ellen's May Day call after its engine stopped and it started drifting perilously close to rocks.

Able Seaman John Bayne, the coxswain of the warship's smaller sea boat which was first on the scene, told This Is Plymouth: "As soon as we hear a May Day call we all react immediately.

"It was good that we were so close as the fishing boat was getting very close to the rocks."

HMS St Albans' commanding officer, Commander Andrew Block, added: "We will always offer assistance to nearby seafarers - saving life at sea, regardless of who it is. It is the first rule of any sailor. I am very proud of my ship's company who reacted quickly and instinctively."

The news comes after two Royal Naval vessels, the HMS Lancaster and the HMS Severn, assisted in prevented the tugboat Christos 22 from sinking after it was hit by the boat it as towing off the coast of Torbay.

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