Lifeboat rescues lifeboat after engine room fire

The all-weather lifeboat was responding to a mayday call out when the fire broke out

A lifeboat had to be called to help another lifeboat after a fire in its engine room during a shout.

Jersey's RNLI said it deployed its inshore lifeboat to tow its all-weather vessel to shore, after the fire caused by a mechanical problem on Thursday evening.

It happened while the all-weather crew was responding to a mayday signal from near the Minquiers islands, to the south of Jersey.

The RNLI said nobody was injured in the incident and an investigation has been launched into the cause.

Investigation launched

An RNLI spokesperson said: "We can confirm that all the crew are fine and managed the situation themselves.

"RNLI volunteer crews train for a range of scenarios, including mechanical issues, and are prepared for such eventualities.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire will be undertaken and repairs carried out."

The Jersey Lifeboat Association (JLA) all-weather vessel, Sir Max Aitken III, was sent to the the site of the original mayday call and searched the area along with Channel Islands Air Search and a French warship.

Senior Coxwain Alain Baudains from the JLA said between them they searched an area of 100-sq-miles (256-sq-km), but did not find anything.