A MAN was rescued by the Teignmouth lifeboat crew after being thrown overboard from his small rib, which was circling out of control because the kill cord, which stops the engine, was not attached.

The volunteer crew were on the scene at Ness beach within nine minutes of receiving the emergency call, and found the sole occupant of the rib had fallen overboard, but as he was not wearing a kill cord, he was in the water and the vessel was dangerously going around in circles. In other similar incidents, occupants have been killed and injured by runaway boats.

The crew used a rope to stop the propeller, and the casualty was taken aboard the Two Annes lifeboat. The rib was towed into Teignmouth harbour at Polly Steps, and the local coastguard team met the casualty, and safety advice was given.