Eight people including a 92-year-old woman were found huddled together on a sinking ship as emergency workers rescued them from a watery grave.
The dramatic scene unfolded on Sunday evening on the River Bure near to Belaugh in Norfolk, when the boat was already three quarters submerged.
Hemsby Broads Rescue was called on Sunday, October 3 at about 6pm by Humber Coastguard to reports of a stricken vessel that was taking on water.
The rescue team arrived at an rendezvous point along with Norfolk Fire Service who also launched a team from Wroxham and the water rescue team from Carrow.
Also on scene were members of Bacton and Winterton Coastguard teams, the ambulance service, and The Broads Authority, Norfolk Live reports.
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When the teams arrived they found the boat three quarters under the water with the occupants "huddled together" on the part of the vessel that was not submerged, two of the occupants were half in the water due to the restricted space.
Hemsby Broads Rescue and the fire service worked together to evacuate all eight casualties onto respective boats and transport them back to the RV point, where the coastguard teams had prepared a floodlit casualty assessment area for immediate aid.
All the casualties were quickly assessed and handed over to the ambulance service for additional checks and further aid.
A spokesman for the Hemsby Broads Rescue team said: "Our thanks to all the crew for their professional work and to the fire service who were also instrumental along with the coastguard in this joint services rescue.
"This was a well-coordinated multi-service operation with faultless teamwork. Once all the casualties were in the safe hands of the ambulance service, Hemsby Broads Rescue were stood down and returned to base to washdown and prepare for the next call."
