Ref. 71209-18THE owners of a motor cruiser that sank in fog off the Dorset coast have spoken of their dramatic rescue.

Robin and Irene Maggs' 45ft boat Freedom lies at the bottom of Poole Harbour after it hit an abandoned anchor at 9.50am on Saturday.

The collision, which happened during a weekend cruise with family and friends, left a five-foot long hole on the bottom of the vessel.

The couple, of Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, and eight crew returned home in the early hours of yesterday morning following failed attempts to raise the former Navy vessel from the seabed.

"There was a massive bang and we came to a sudden stop," said Mr Maggs.

"Water came pouring in instantly and within a minute of the impact a decision was made to abandon the boat. We were all very anxious because we didn't really know what had happened."

Portland Coastguard helicopter and lifeboats were scrambled after Mr Maggs, 53, sent out a Mayday call, but attempts to pump water from the vessel to stop it from sinking failed.

Nine crew, four of them children, were rescued by a nearby boat and were taken to shore but Mr Maggs stayed for another 30 minutes to help the rescue effort.

"It was such a relief when we were all safely on the shore," said Mrs Maggs, 52, a former maths teacher at Swindon College.

Mr Maggs, a mechanic, said that the early morning fog was lifting when the cruiser set off. He said he was sailing along the Wych Channel which should ensure a safe passage through the harbour.

"We didn't realise what had caused the impact," he said. "We later discovered an anchor, which was on its end, had caused it. It should not have been there."

An insurance company is now assessing the damage.

The couple, who bought Freedom 25 years ago, said they were devastated by the loss because the boat held so many memories.

"I feel very angry and shocked this has happened," said Mrs Maggs. "It has destroyed part of our lives. We spent most weekends during the summer on the boat and our children grew up on it. A lot of good memories were on the boat."

In 1988, the Advertiser reported that Freedom was used to save the lives of three people whose boat sank near Studland Bay, Dorset.

Mr and Mrs Maggs, who have been members of the Swindon Sub-Aqua Club since the early 1970s, jumped into the water and helped pull the trio to safety.

Ben Payne