PENARTH lifeboat station crew rescued a sinking yacht suffering from engine failure on the weekend.

Both the Penarth Lifeboats were called out to tow the yacht to safety so that it could be repaired.

Penarth Coastguard had been called to a vessel in difficulty off Penarth Pier at around 12.30pm on Sunday, July 13.

They arrived on-scene at Penarth Esplanade to find a 23ft motor vessel with one person on board suffering from engine failure and taking on water.

The Penarth Lifeboat and inshore lifeboat (ILB) were launched to assist, tow and beach the casualty vessel just off Penarth Slipway.

A Penarth Coastguard spokesman said: “The vessel cannot be repaired on the beach and will be recovered once it refloats onto a trailer. Once the vessel was secured all units were stood down and returned to their respective stations.”

Penarth Coastguard were also called out to a sinking water ski boat at Cardiff Bay Barrage later on Sunday.

At 6.10pm they were tasked to possible persons in the water off Cardiff Bay Barrage. They arrived on-scene at the water taxi stand (Barrage South) to find five peoole that had been in the water after their 23ft water ski boat had taken on water and had overturned right outside the lock and sunk near to the water taxi pontoon.

Another vessel had picked up the men and helped them to the pontoon. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service - Official were also tasked along with Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. All casualties were safe and well and needed no medical assistance. The vessel remained underwater, marked and buoyed off, and was due to be removed from the water at a later date by the Cardiff Harbour Authority.