12:00pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
By James Tourgout
A SAILOR is running the marathon for the RNLI after he was rescued taking lottery winners for a spin in Weymouth Bay.
Ben Harris, aged 33, from Dorchester, was giving lottery millionaires Edd and Michelle Edwards a lesson on their new boat when they broke down.
He wants to repay the debt after the lifeboat crew came out to rescue them.
Ben, who is a commercial yacht master and RYA instructor, was just half a mile from the harbour entrance when the crankshaft broke on the boat, Alice.
Ben said: “I heard the engine sounding a little rough at slow speeds. I stopped the vessel and checked the engine to find the crankshaft wasn’t turning. We dropped the anchor and then called for help.”
He added: “I’ve never had to call the RNLI before but Edd, Michelle and I all very much appreciated their help.
“The RNLI crew members are all volunteers who help to save lives all around the UK, so I’m glad to be able to give them something back.”
The lifeboat was performing a training exercise that morning close by and was able to send its inshore lifeboat to help the stranded group.
Edd and Michelle, of Yeovil, won £1.9million on the lottery in 2008.
Ben has already taken part in the London Triathlon for the British Heart Foundation.
He is also planning to com- pete in an Ironman event to raise funds for a cancer charity.
Ben runs BH Marine in partnership with the Royal Dorset Yacht Club in Weymouth as well as volunteering as an ambulance first responder in his community near Dorchester. He is hoping to raise £2,500.
Andy Sargent, RNLI Coxswain at Weymouth, said: “We’re delighted that Ben has chosen to say thank you to the RNLI at Weymouth in such an amazing way and we wish him the very best of luck.”
l Go to justgiving.com/Ben-Harris
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