LIFEBOAT crew were called out to help a capsized dinghy near Brownsea Island yesterday that had snapped its mast.

Volunteers at Poole Lifeboat Station launched just after 6pm in “lively” conditions. A safety boat from Poole Yacht Club was already on scene and had recovered three "very cold" casualties from the water.

When the inshore lifeboat arrived, the casualties were transferred across to the lifeboat and the crew checked them over before bringing them back to the lifeboat station to warm them up.

Volunteer helmsman Ed said: “The wind was strong and with the one metre swell in the harbour, the casualties got caught out, the boat capsized and they had the misfortune of the mast getting stuck in the mud, then snapping.

“They soon warmed up and were none the worse after the incident,” he added.

The lifeboat returned to Pottery Pier to recover the dinghy and towed it back to the slipway at Lake Road, Hamworthy.

Bournemouth Echo: