Whitby All-Weather and Inshore Lifeboats were called to assist, in addition to the Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team and a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer. The Emulator, a local fishing vessel in the vicinity, also offered their assistance.
Two of Defiants crew members were taken off by lifeboat on arrival. Initial calls from the skipper of the Defiant had indicated that the situation onboard was deteriorating and that the crew needed to be rescued.
As conditions onboard worsened, the two remaining Defiant crewmembers were winched by RAF helicopter and passed into the care of Whitby Coastguard Team and a North Yorkshire Ambulance crew.
At an early stage, Whitby Lifeboat succeeded in securing a line to the Defiant. With a rising tide and once all Defiant crew members were safely ashore, the lifeboat crew refloated the vessel and assessed the situation onboard. Unfortunately, the Defiant continued to take water and list.
Despite concerted efforts by the lifeboat crew to salvage the vessel, the towing operation had to be abandoned and the Defiant sank in 10 metres of water at 09.45 am. The Defiants liferaft and EPIRB were recovered from the sea by the lifeboat.
Phil Saltonstall, Humber Coastguard said:
The crew of this fishing vessel has been safely rescued from their distress situation. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the lifeboat, the vessel was unable to be saved.
