Whitby RNLI rescue rowers from water (Credit: RNLI)

Rowers rescued by RNLI after boat capsizes off coast of Whitby.
The experienced rowers had headed out in the calm conditions of the harbour but upon exiting the pier ends had noticed a strong cross-shore wind picking up.

They decided to head back to harbour but upon attempting to turn around their boat overturned and the pair ended up in the water.

They signalled to another rower to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard as they knew the conditions would make it difficult to conduct a buddy rescue.

Jonathan Marr who was helm on the inshore lifeboat said: 'When you hear that you are attending a shout to two people in the water, you know you need to get there quickly as every second counts. When we arrived we were relieved to see that both casualties were wearing lifejackets and had managed to climb onto the upturned hull of their rowing boat."

With no way of controlling the vessel the rowing boat had drifted about a mile off shore when they were reached by the RNLI volunteers.