LIFEBOAT volunteers have completed a record-breaking rescue after a fishing boat began to sink 110-miles off the North-East coast.

Crew members spent 19 hours at sea to rescue the skipper of a decommissioned Danish trawler who was sailing singlehanded to Sunderland.

The alarm was raised at 6am on Tuesday by the skipper of the Louise Thomsen who said that his stricken vessel was taking in water.

Humber Coastguard sent a rescue helicopter to find the fishing boat and winch a crewman down with a pump who managed to halt the flow of water and prevent the vessel sinking.

The helicopter was then recalled and the Tynemouth RNLI all weather lifeboat, with five crew on board, was then launched at 9.30am on a 110 nautical mile journey to the casualty vessel.

After sailing at top speed for four-and-a-half hours, the crew reached the spot where the Louise Thomsen was expected to be, but found no trace of her.

The trawler was eventually contacted by radio 30 miles south of her original position and the lifeboat reached her another hour later.

After putting a crew member on board to help the skipper, the lifeboat then towed the stricken vessel back to Sunderland in a 12-hour journey through poor sea conditions.

Once the Louise Thomsen reached Sunderland Fish Quay, the lifeboat returned to the Tyne and reached its station at 4.30am today (WED), 19 hours after launching.

Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station, said: “The rescue effort took a dramatic turn for the worse when the Louise Thomsen wasn't in her expected position, but the rescue crews followed their extensive training and located her quickly.

One hundred and ten nautical miles is the furthest out to sea any RNLI lifeboat has been on a 'shout' and was the very edge of our Severn class lifeboat's range which is limited by the amount of fuel she carries.

“The previous record distance was 98nm, set by the Valencia RNLI lifeboat in 1985.

“The skipper of the fishing boat is safe and our volunteer crew members have now all gone off to bed for a well-deserved rest.”