THREE fishermen on board a sinking ship were ready to jump overboard minutes before a lifeboat arrived to help.

The RAF Boulmer helicopter and a lifeboat were scrambled to Hartlepool yesterday after a mayday call from the stricken boat Good Intent.

The 50ft vessel was working about seven miles off the coast when it began taking in water at 8.30am.

The situation became so drastic that the three men, believed to be from Whitby, in North Yorkshire, put on life jackets and prepared to jump into the sea.

Tom Collins, spokesman for Hartlepool RNLI, said: "It was quite a dramatic rescue and the crew on board were seriously concerned.

"We launched ten minutes after receiving the mayday call and when we got there the crew had their life jackets on.

"The boat would have certainly gone under if we hadn't got there when we did."

Mr Collins said the rescue operation took about four hours, with three lifeboat crew members taking two pumps on board to remove water.

A spokesman for the Humber Coastguard, which requested the launch of the RAF Boulmer helicopter, said: "They had about 5ft of water in the fish room and their pump could not reduce the water level.

"The rescue helicopter lowered a pump down to the vessel and the Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat also placed a pump on board.

"The ship was then escorted to Hartlepool Fish Quay and later reported a hole in the wooden hull."