A lifeboat crew were unable to stop an abandoned 19m motor boat from sinking but later found an abandoned rubber dinghy on rocks onshore with a warm engine.

RNLI Penlee was tasked by Falmouth Coastguards at 6:30am this morning (Thursday, July 11) to a motor vessel taking on water off Lamorna.

The all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat the Ivan Ellen with its crew of RNLI volunteers under Coxswain Patch Harvey made best speed to the location to find a 19 motor motor vessel taking on water.

The lifeboat put two crew onboard who ascertained there was no-one there and were unable to prevent the vessel from sinking.

The vessel sits low in the water as it sinksThe vessel sits low in the water as it sinks (Image: Penlee RNLI)

At 7am the same morning Penlee’s B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat the Mollie and Ivor Dent and the Penzance Cliff Rescue Team under Station Officer James Maddern were also sent by Falmouth Coastguard to conduct a search of the area.

Fishermen reported that two people in a dinghy had gone into Lamorna harbour and the cliff rescue team found a rubber dinghy on the rocks at that location with a warm engine but there was no sign of anyone who may have manned it.

Penlee all weather lifeboat collected as much debris as possible from the stricken vessel including life raft, flotation rings etc. Before both lifeboats returned to Newlyn and prepared for the next shout.