At 00.05 on Tuesday 21st August, 2012, Guernsey Coastguard received a 999 call from the local boat “Sandpiper” reporting no fuel and lost in the Big Russel with 2 people on board after returning from Sark.

The Lifeboat departed St Peter Port at 0026 and searched the area; at 0445 the Lifeboat found the Sandpiper 5nm off the North West coast of Guernsey and towed the vessel back to St Peter Port harbour arriving at approximately 0600.