Published: Wednesday, 23rd July, 2008 6:40pm

Crew at 'mercy of the sea'

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TWO men who set sail in a 'poorly equipped boat' narrowly escaped serious injury when it smashed onto rocks near Dunbar on Sunday.

A member of the public alerted Dunbar RNLI at about 1pm after seeing the men, who are believed to be from Whitburn, West Lothian, struggling in the heavy seas.

The engine of their 16-ft long boat had broken down, leaving them powerless and unable to navigate back to shore.

Dunbar RNLI lifeboat coxswain Gary Fairbairn said: 'The boat appeared to be poorly equipped without a working radio, flares, or even an anchor, so when they lost power there was nothing they could do but be at the mercy of the sea.

'The boat eventually came ashore onto rocks near Dunbar Golf Club and the two crewmen jumped off uninjured.

'They were lucky to be hit on the stern by the breakers which surfed them up the shore.

'If they had been hit broad side on we may well have been looking for bodies,' added Mr Fairbairn.

Coastguard teams quickly dragged the boat further up the shoreline, as it was too badly damaged to be re-floated.