Lifeboat rescues man from small boat after engine fails near beach

A 56-year-old man was treated for hypothermia after being rescued from a small boat near Dunbar's East Beach.

Lifeboat rescues man from small boat after engine fails near Dunbar beach RNLI via Supplied

A man was rescued on Saturday from a small boat after it got into trouble near a beach in East Lothian.

The D-class lifeboat was called after a swimmer was spotted in difficulty near Dunbar’s East Beach at around 4pm.

However, the swimmer came to shore unaided, and the lifeboat crew spotted a small boat “struggling” in blustery conditions.

The Rigid Raider craft’s primary and secondary engine failed, meaning it was in danger of drifting onto nearby rocks.

Rescue crews were able to intercept the boat and took the owner, a 56-year-old man, to safety before towing the vessel back to Dunbar Harbour.

He was taken ashore at 5.20pm and treated for hypothermia.

ILB helm Alan Blair said: “Fortunately, we were in the right place at the right time. He was very lucky. By the time his second engine failed he was taking on a lot of water and might not have been able to raise the alarm before going onto rocks.

“If that had happened it could have been a very different scenario, like a water rescue or possibly a recovery.”

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