RNLI crews rescue 16 people including baby plus dogs and rabbit

RNLI lifeboat crews rescue 16 people including a six-month-old baby plus two dogs and a rabbit after two pleasure cruisers run aground at low tide

• Ten people winched by helicopter, while rest of the group were rescued by boat
• Among saved was a pregnant woman, a six-month-old baby, two dogs, a rabbit 
• No-one required hospital treatment after the two cruisers ran aground on river

Lifeboat crews have rescued 16 people, two dogs, and a rabbit after the group of holidaymakers were stranded on pleasure cruisers today. 

Ten people had to be winched by helicopter while the rest were saved by boat after the two vessels ran aground near a riverside holiday destination in Norfolk. 

Among those saved was a pregnant woman, the animals and also a six-month-old baby. 

Rescuers said the timing of the operation was ‘critical’ due to an ebbing tide and because the boats were leaning towards the water, putting those on board at greater risk. 

Lifeboat crews have rescued 16 people, two dogs, and a rabbit after the group was stranded on boats in Norfolk. Pictured: Handout photo issued by Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI of one of 16 holidaymakers to be rescued by the RNLI

One of the dogs, pictured, and a man who was among 16 people who were winched by helicopter and rescued by boat

RNLI action involved the rescue of two stricken cruisers in the Breydon Water

Two lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter were scrambled to Breydon Water at around 4.50am after two cruisers ran aground on the River Yare at low tide.

Marine engineers had initially tried to rescue the occupants, but were unable to on their own.

Lifeboats from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI then rushed to the trapped vessels.

The shallow waters meant the lifeboat could not get close to one vessel and an HM Coastguard helicopter, close to the mouth of the waterway, was called in to assist.

The helicopter winched those on the second vessel two at a time before dropping them off in a nearby rugby field. Pictured: The helicopter, one of the cruisers and RNLI lifeboat crew 

One vessel had a damaged engine and will be recovered at a later time. Pictured: One of the dogs with a men who were rescued

Hemsby Lifeboat, which deployed a flat-bottomed boat used to navigate the Norfolk Broads and could handle the shallow water, was also called to help in the rescue. 

It retrieved the young mother and baby off the stricken vessel before returning again for four others and the animals, who were taken to Yarmouth Yacht station.

The helicopter winched those on the second vessel two at a time, a total of 10, before dropping them off in a nearby rugby field.

No-one needed hospital treatment and one vessel had a damaged engine that will be recovered at a later time.

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