LIFEBOAT volunteers were called out on Tuesday evening (September 11) – to come to the rescue of one of their own crew members.

UK Coastguard paged for the lifeboat at 6.30pm after the fishing vessel Spitfire – owned by Robert Davies and son Rowan, a volunteer on the Dunbar lifeboat crew – became tail tied on its own net.

Dunbar’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched from its mooring at Torness Power Station, to the east of the town, at about 6.55pm and reached the stricken Spitfire five miles north of the town 20 minutes later.

A tow was quickly set up but because of the state of tide it was deemed too risky to return to the harbour.

That meant a five-hour wait until 1am when it was deemed safe enough to attempt an approach.

In 20 miles per hour wind and some swell, the crew of the ALB John Neville Taylor shortened the tow line and guided the Spitfire to a safe berth at around 1.20am.

The ALB then returned to Torness where by 2.45am it was refuelled and ready for service.

Nobody was injured in the incident.