LYME Regis lifeboat rescue crews had to be ready ‘at the double’ as they performed two rescue operations within minutes of each other.

Four people who were thrown into the sea from a speedboat were rescued almost immediately thanks to the quick reaction from the volunteer lifesaving crew. The lifeboat crew had just returned to shore on Sunday, August 11, after towing a broken down rib into West Bay Harbour, which had eight people on board including one child.

As they were returning from the mission and getting the boat back onto dry land, coastguards who had earlier helped with the first incident, spotted a speedboat sinking and immediately raised the alarm.

The three men and one woman who were on board had been tipped into the water.

They were around 400 metres off Charmouth beach.

Fortunately for the stranded foursome, the lifeboat volunteers were halfway through changing out of their dry suits from the previous rescue, so they could easily and quickly change back into them.

This meant the crew were able to launch the lifeboat within two minutes and arrive at the sinking speedboat within five minutes of the emergency call coming through.

Lifeboat helmsman Elliott Herbert told the Lyme Regis News: “When we arrived at the scene all four adults were in the water and the speedboat was just visible above the surface. “Needless to say, they were very pleased to see us.”

It is still unknown what caused the speedboat to sink with the weather conditions good and the speedboat seemingly in a good condition. The four people were returned to shore safely by the crew and although very cold and very wet, they did not need any hospital treatment and were all unhurt.

After returning the four, the crew recovered the 16 foot speedboat and beached it outside Lyme Regis Harbour.