Mudeford RNLI rescues family’s broken down motorboat ‘perilously’ close to shore at Hurst Point, off Milford

RNLI rescuers saved a family’s motorboat just before it ran aground after breaking down “perilously” close to the shore off Milford.

The alarm was raised at 10.45am on Friday 16th August, reporting the 37ft vessel in difficulty to the west of Hurst Point and drifting towards the shore with two adults, one child and a dog on board.

The Mudeford Servant Atlantic 85 lifeboat launched 10 minutes later in moderate conditions, with force six winds and waves up to two metres high.

Arriving on scene shortly after 11am, its crew quickly established the motorboat had suffered total mechanical failure.

With sea conditions preventing safe transfer of its occupants to the lifeboat as time ran out, a rescuer volunteered to board it and help attach a towline.

The motorboat was then towed away from shore and to the safety of the Lymington marina.

Mudeford RNLI volunteer Helm Ian Parker said: “This was a rescue that was right down to the wire.

“If we had not been able to launch as quickly as we did the outcome could have been very different.

“We are delighted everyone was recovered safe and well.”