Crew rescued after fishing boat capsizes in gale force winds

Two men had to be airlifted from the upturned hull of a fishing boat after it capsized in gale force winds in the English Channel.

The men were rescued alongside two colleagues who were pulled from the water by the crew of a merchant ship.

The Coastguard was alerted on Wednesday afternoon by a distress signal from the stranded boat and also by the merchant vessel.

A search and rescue helicopter from Lydd, in Kent, was scrambled as well as RNLI lifeboats from Eastbourne and Newhaven, both in East Sussex.

The boat’s crew were taken to Dover lifeboat station, in Kent, where they were checked by paramedics and did not need hospital treatment.

Kaimes Beasley, duty controller for HM Coastguard said: “This was a very successful outcome to what could have been a tragic one. There was a huge effort to rescue these four men in near gale force conditions in the English Channel.

“Thankfully, all four fishermen have been picked up and despite being cold and wet are otherwise safe and well.”