THERE was a Saturday launch for the Beaumaris lifeboat crew.

The UK Coastguard at Holyhead received a report that a fishing vessel in the vicinity of Puffin Island had a rope around her propeller and required assistance.

The Beaumaris Inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington launched at 2.35pm and proceeded towards Puffin Island.

Once the craft was located, the lifeboat crew discussed the situation with the casualty vessel crew.

In view of the calm conditions and that due to low speed that the boat had been travelling when the propeller fouled the lobster buoy line, it was agreed that a lifeboat crew member would enter the water to see if it would be possible to free the propeller of the obstruction.

Fortunately the casualty vessel had an inboard engine with the propeller close to the stern, so the lifeboat crew member was able to ascertain that the rope was wrapped around the propeller and wedged between the propeller and the rudder.

By cutting the line and unravelling the rope from the propeller, the volunteer lifeboat crew member was able to free the obstruction.

The lifeboat then recovered her crewman from the water and shadowed the fishing vessel into the straits to ensure that the engine had not been damaged.

The lifeboat then returned to her station at Beaumaris, arriving back at 3.20pm and being refuelled, before being made ready for her next service call by 3.55pm.