Two lifeboats had to be launched yesterday to go the aid of a dive boat that was taking on water in deteriorating weather conditions.

The St Ives lifeboat was launched at 4:30pm after the 50ft dive vessel had reported taking on water 15 miles north of St Ives with two people on board.

Once on scene two lifeboat crew members were put on board the dive vessel with a salvage pump and remained on board to monitor the situation and use the pump if needed.

Due to the size of vessel and it being low water the St Ives coxswain decide to escort the vessel towards Newlyn.

Penlee Lifeboat launched at 9pm with the idea to take over the escort duties back to Newlyn.

The two lifeboats met west of Carn Base at 10:15pm. With the deteriorating weather conditions and the fact that the dive vessel had now lost all electronics and lights and only making four knots, Penlee Lifeboat Coxswain made the decision to connect a tow rope and tow the vessel to Newlyn.

At 1am the dive vessel was towed safely into Newlyn harbour and put on a pontoon berth, the two St Ives crewmen and the salvage pump were taken off and driven back to St Ives, after a wash down and square up Penlee Lifeboat was ready for service at 1:30am.

"A good job by both lifeboat crew especially the two crew that remained on board the dive vessel," said the RNLI.