A lone yachtsman has been towed to safety after his propeller got tangled up in a lobster close to The Port of Felixstowe.

The single sailor's yawl was towed to safety into Shotley marina at just after 1pm on Friday afternoon.

The Harwich ILB was swiftly dispatched to respond to a distress call from a 26-foot yawl in need of assistance.

The yacht, with only one person on board, found itself entangled in a perilous situation - its propeller entwined in a lobster pot amidst the busy waters of Pennyhole Bay, situated off Walton-on-the-Naze.

Upon arriving at the scene, the volunteers assessed the situation, devising a plan to carefully free the yacht from the entanglement.

As the stricken vessel's propeller had suffered damage due to its entanglement with the lobster pot, and its propulsion impaired, the yacht was rendered helpless. Therefore, posing a significant risk in the vicinity of the bustling ports of Felixstowe and Harwich.

The volunteers of the ILB understood the gravity of the situation, recognising that leaving the yacht adrift could lead to potential collisions with other vessels, endangering not only the lone person on board but also posing a threat to the safety of other mariners in the busy waterways.

Hence, towing the yacht to safety was not only a prudent decision but a critical one. With utmost care, the volunteer RNLI crew securely attached a tow line to the disabled vessel, ensuring a steady and controlled transit to Shotley Marina.

Having completed the rescue and accomplished their mission, the ILB and its crew returned to Harwich, they quickly refuelled the ILB, ensuring it was primed and ready for the next call for help.