Royal Navy sailors from Portsmouth rescue fishermen stranded at sea near Plymouth

Tiny HMS Puncher was carrying out routine navigation training for young officers when it responded to an emergency call from the coastguard.

Without power and unable to radio for help, the fishermen on the troubled boat had to use their mobile phones to alert the coastguard, as they drifted dangerously towards the coast.

But without any power, the fishing boat could not give an accurate location of where they were as they continued to drift towards the rocky shore.

After several searches of incorrect locations, a Google map screenshot from the fisherman’s mobile phone aided in finding the small fishing boat.

Bringing them alongside, Puncher’s crew set about assessing the situation, while naval engineers attempted to fix the damaged boat.

A repair to the vessel’s engine was attempted, however, within 100 metres she broke down again and HMS Puncher towed the fishing craft safely into Plymouth, ending the five-hour rescue effort.

‘My crew put in an outstanding effort over the long duration of the rescue operation,’ said Lieutenant Phil Hack, HMS Puncher’s commanding officer.

‘There was a lot of thinking on our feet and I was impressed by all their hard work.

‘We were 700 metres off the shore by the time we got them underway and we recovered them all safely in the scorching summer heat.’

HMS Puncher is based in Portsmouth and is part of the navy’s fleet of P2000 boats.

Their job is to patrol the coastal waters of the UK.

The vessels also provide training platforms for young mariners.

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