ALB paged for Standby by Yarmouth Coastguard at 15:22, Launch requested at 15:27

The Royal Shipwright was launched on a Major Search and Rescue operation at 15:35 after initial reports of 9 missing divers off Mundesley.

As the lifeboat proceeded towards the last given position of the dive boats it became clear that their divers were overdue and also the dive boats had possibly drifted out of position.

Happisburgh Inshore Lifeboat was proceeding to the scene and communicating with the dive boat Sea Hawk and Yarmouth Coastguard to establish co-ordinates for the position the divers were expected to surface.

Meanwhile Sheringham lifeboat launched to assist with the search and headed along the coast in their new Atlantic 85, 'The Oddfellows'.

On board Cromer lifeboat the crew were kept busy with radio communications, radar tracking, chart work and keeping a constant visual lookout as the lifeboat proceeded towards the scene.

Within minutes of arriving 'on scene' Happisburgh Inshore Lifeboat located 7 of the missing divers and were able to get them on board, transferring them to one of the dive boats soon after.

As Cromer lifeboat approached the search area, Rescue Helicopter 125, from RAF Wattisham arrived on scene and quickly located the remaining 2 divers. The winch man was lowered into the water to make sure they were in good health and then  contacted Yarmouth Coastguard to give their position.

Yarmouth then requested the Sheringham lifeboat to proceed to their position and pick the divers up. They were not lifted into the helicopter because of the hazards of taking oxygen cylinders into aircraft, as the divers were not in a life threatening situation it was safer for the lifeboat to deal with them!

With all the divers accounted for the Sheringham lifeboat took the two divers ashore and Cromer Lifeboat escorted Happisburgh ILB and the two dive boats with the remaining divers to Sea Palling.

At 17:15 when the divers and their boats were safely ashore, the lifeboats were released to return to station.

The Royal Shipwright landed back on the beach at Cromer at 18:18 and was washed down, re-fuelled and made ready for service by 19:15.

Crew

J Davies (Coxswain)

P Watling (Mechanic)

A Woods

G Nichols

A Lincoln

M Brown

M Steward

Shore crew

J Stuart (Tractor)

R Kirk (Head launcher)

P Russell

R Annis

A Barker

K Forden

G Stallard

C Davies 

R Leeds

P Stibbons