Woman in freak tide sinking

The vessel was taking part in a race in the harbour organised by Parkstone Yacht Club.

Mrs Stewart, from Poole, spent more than a minute under the water and one lifeboat crew member said she was lucky to be alive.

Four other boats were caught out by what the Royal National Lifeboat Institution called a ‘‘merciless’’ ebb tide of six knots.

The RNLI Poole lifeboat and inshore lifeboat were in the area on another call at the time the yacht broke up on the 100ft long ferry that can carry 48 cars.

Lifeboat coxswain Jon Clark said his vessel and the inshore lifeboat were towing yachts away from the stationary ferry when the yacht sunk.

‘‘It just broke up and disappeared in front of us in 10 seconds and everything, including the mast, was just torn under the ferry,’’ he said.

‘‘Three people were in the water but the elderly woman was sucked under the ferry with the yacht and the two men were clinging for their lives on to the ferry.

‘‘We raced around to the other side of the ferry and probably one minute 30 seconds later she popped up about 10 yards away from it.

‘‘She was conscious but traumatised.’’

Lifeboat Second Coxswain Mark Cole, 26, then jumped into the water and inflated Mrs Stewart’s lifejacket before she was pulled to safety.

Mrs Stewart was treated by a doctor at the pier side before she and the two men were taken to hospital, where her condition has been stabilised.

Mr Clark, 34, said the accident was caused by the ‘‘unusual’’ strength of the tide, which could have taken an experienced skipper by surprise.

He added circumstances had been compounded by the sheer number of vessels on the water enjoying the Bank Holiday sunshine.

‘‘The woman is lucky to be alive after what happened - there is no question of that. But all the boats were in grave danger at the time.’’

Parkstone Yacht Club confirmed the yachts were racing.