The crew and passengers of a fishing boat were rescued after the vessel hit a submerged object and began taking on water three miles out to sea off Newquay.

The 33ft charter fishing boat, The Adventuress, suffered damage to her propeller in the collision off Cornwall’s north coast on 4 April, and sea water began pouring in, according to a spokesperson for the Newquay RNLI.

“Fortunately her own pump was able to keep pace with the water coming onboard,” said the spokesman. The crew of the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat were alerted at 3.22pm and launched to assist the vessel, which was three miles north-west of Towan Head.

The RNLI escorted the specially adapted ‘Lochin 33’ workboat, which has twin 318bhp engines, towards Newquay Harbour in light north-westerly winds. However, as a result of the earlier damage, the boat’s steering failed as they passed Towan Head, “so our lifeboat volunteers took the angling boat in tow and brought her passengers and crew safely into the harbour at 4.30pm,” explained the spokesman.

The RNLI volunteer Newquay crew after completing their rescue

A commercial crane was waiting to lift the damaged fishing boat onto the quay for repairs.