Watch the RNLI's video of the rescue here

Video courtesy of Weymouth RNLI

A FATHER and son were plucked to safety from their life-raft in a dramatic rescue mission after abandoning their sinking fishing boat.

The pair were airlifted by the coastguard rescue helicopter as their boat Rowella took on water three-and-a-half miles out to sea off Lulworth.

Attempts by Weymouth lifeboats to save the stricken vessel were unsuccessful and it sunk beneath the water yesterday afternoon.

Adam Gould and son Ross, who had abandoned their 11-metre boat as it took on water, were said to be cold and shocked but otherwise uninjured following the ordeal.

The Portland Coastguard helicopter, two RNLI lifeboats, and six local fishing boats came to their aid after the crew put out a mayday distress call came at 1.50pm.

The helicopter was first on the scene and rescued the men from a life-raft close to their stricken fishing boat.

Chief pilot Mike Roughton said: “We understand they were putting pots in the water when they noticed the boat was filling with water.

“They took to a life-raft and we were there in about five minutes by which time the water was lapping at the upper deck. The guys were cold and a bit shocked but fine. We took them to Portland where they had a shower and we gave them warm clothing.”

Portland Coastguard watch manager Andrew Jenkins said: “We are pleased that thanks to the swift response of the helicopter, lifeboats and the fishing vessels that responded, the two crew members were brought safely ashore and needed no medical attention.

“The two lifeboats remained on scene to ensure that any flotsam that might have come to the surface did not pose a hazard to other craft in the |area.”|

After the two fishermen were winched to safety the all weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat attended and attempted to bail out the stricken vessel.

Weymouth Lifeboat Coxswain Andy Sargent, said: “When we arrived we assisted the two fishing boats, the Katie-Anne and the Meerkat, attempting to bail out the water.

“We tried to tow it back but unfortunately it capsized because of the sheer weight of the water.”

The two crew members were flown to safety at Portland airbase at 2.40pm.

One of the first on the scene was Dave Gibson, skipper of the angling charter boat the Meerkat, who charged to the rescue of the Rowella crew after hearing the mayday.

He said: “After hearing a mayday like that your heart is in your mouth and you drop everything to get there as soon as you can.

“We got there about 10 minutes after the mayday just as the helicopter arrived and watched the pair getting rescued out of the life-raft.

“Their boat’s engine was still going and it was attached to a line of pots.

“As soon as the line was cut the stern went under and as the lifeboat started to tow it away we noticed she was starting to list. It only took a few minutes and she went down.”

Mr Gibson said that in the fishing community is an underwritten agreement that you never turn your back on a vessel in trouble.

He added: “It was very sad watching the boat go down but at the end of the day there were no casualties so it was a good outcome all round.”

In February 2010 the crew of the fishing boat Rowella had a lucky escape after it hit rocks off of Portland Bill, but the RNLI were stood down after the vessel got going again. A coastguard spokesperson said the cause of the sinking was unknown.