Two men rescued from drifting boat near Sidmouth

TWO men were rescued after their 26ft boat lost power off the Sidmouth coast early on Sunday morning.

Lifeboats from Lyme Regis and Exmouth went to the aid of The Cormorant, which was drifting one-and-a-half miles south of Sidmouth.

The men on board used mobile phone and flares to signal their position.

The Cormorant was travelling from Salcombe to Portsmouth, when she lost all power.

Lyme Regis lifeboat crew took the boat under tow before requesting the launch of the all-weather lifeboat from nearby Exmouth to complete the operation, avoiding a 12-mile journey to Lyme Regis.

The two men aboard the wooden former ship’s lifeboat, Peter Hawkes, 58, and his son, Richard, 31, were taking the boat to their home town of Portsmouth for a friend.

Mr Hawkes said: “Everything went perfectly. The RNLI were brilliant, but we were embarrassed to have to call for their help.”