A husband and wife were rescued yesterday after suffering engine failure on their boat near Port Solent. Solent Coastguard paged the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service to help a 22ft coastal lugger near Port Solent, Portsmouth.

The vessel had suffered engine failure at 6pm yesterday and its anchor was dragging in winds gusting up to gale force eight.

Gosport Rescue One launched into rough seas and was with the vessel within 13 minutes.

Two crew from the lifeboat waded in shallow water for 200 metres to get to the stricken craft.

They then pulled the lugger into deeper water where the lifeboat then could attach a tow line to tow it to Trafalgar Quay.

The elderly husband and wife crew from Feltham were unhurt and in good spirits.

This was the 99th incident attend by the independent lifeboat service based in Stokes Bay, Gosport, now celebrating its 40th year of saving lives.

Source: portsmouth.co.uk