Looe RNLI volunteer crews launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat on Thursday afternoon to go to the assistance of a local inshore crabber suffering engine problems.

Due to the low spring tide, onlookers on the Banjo Pier watched as the Talus semi-submersible tractor pushed the lifeboat way past the Banjo Pier to launch.

In calm sea conditions, the volunteer crew made their way to the crabber’s reported position off the Hore Stone to the west of Looe Island.

A tow line was established and the crabber was towed back towards Looe. Unable to bring the crabber back into the river due to the lack of water, she was moored in the bay off East Looe beach and the fisherman on board was bought ashore.

Looe RNLI operations manager Dave Haines said it was unusual for the launching of the inshore lifeboat to coincide with such a low spring tide. He could not remember a time when the tractor had to go so far out from the Banjo Pier.