As the waves crashed over the hull of the grounded yacht at Penzance, its injured owner threw his two dogs to safety before lying on deck shivering as he waited for help.

This was the scene that greeted the volunteer crews of Penlee's all-weather and inshore lifeboats just after 7am on Sunday.

A 999 call had been made by a concerned member of the public, who spotted a man and two dogs trapped onboard a yacht on rocks below Chyandour Cliff, alongside the cycle path.

A lifeboat spokesperson said: "It was immediately clear that the yacht could not be towed from the rocks. The tide was ebbing and there was far too much surf running for the inshore lifeboat ?to get alongside and rescue the man. He was still onboard, but had managed to throw both his dogs to safety."

Volunteer crew member Jack Shannon entered the water and swam ashore to some steps near Penzance Railway Station, before making his way on foot to the 32-foot yacht, called Get Knotted.

He could see that the 64-year-old man was injured and with the surf now breaking on to the hull there was an immediate need to get him off the vessel.

Jack helped the casualty, who had injured his hip in a fall when the yacht grounded, across several large boulders, to the safety of dry land. He was then handed over to members of the Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team, who did a full medical assessment before carrying him on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. He was then taken to the West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance for treatment.

The two dogs were looked after by the Penlee Lifeboat press officer Elaine Trethowan, who said: "Both dogs were very wet and cold, and obviously distressed to see their much loved owner heading off to hospital. I took them to Newlyn, dried them off, gave them food and some much needed love and attention. They are both safe and well with a friend of the rescued man."

Whilst this rescue was underway, the remaining crew of the inshore lifeboat ?went to help another yacht moored on a buoy off Penzance Harbour. Due to the changing weather conditions, a moderate swell and the ebbing tide, the lone yachtsman was having difficulties moving from his mooring and getting the anchor up.

A crew member was transferred across to the yacht to help and remained onboard whilst the inshore lifeboat escorted the vessel to the shelter of Newlyn Harbour.

RNLI coxswain Karl Sargent said: "This was a very busy morning for both our volunteer lifeboat crews, but as always their quick response to the RNLI pagers led to another successful outcome. Our thanks must also go to the Penzance Coastguard Rescue Team and the Devon and Cornwall Police for their assistance and prompt response - teamwork at its best."