COASTGUARDS were called into action to rescue 12 people from a boat that was sinking off the East Anglian coast.
The Ocean Dragon, a 24m-long dive support boat, began shipping water after being holed about one mile off the north Norfolk coast at Weybourne shortly before 5pm this evening.
Yarmouth coastguard, which co-ordinated the rescue, sent the Cromer and Sheringham lifeboats to the scene but they found the boat’s pumps were managing to cope with the incoming water and the Sheringham crew returned to base.
Cromer lifeboat coxswain John Davies said the divers on board had been working on cable coming from an off-shore wind farm when their vessel had been damaged after hitting one of their mooring buoys.
Cromer lifeboat escorted the damaged boat with 12 people on board back to Yarmouth harbour.
The RAF Wattisham rescue helicopter was alerted but did not attend.
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