A sea rescue by a St Ives lifeboat crew which saved three people will appear on television on Tuesday.

Volunteers on board The Princess Royal saved a Hayle resident with two visiting friends who got in difficulties in heavy seas at St Ives Bay when on board his 20-foot Treeve on Sunday, May 2 this year. Having been originally shown on the Discovery Channel, footage of the rescue will feature on the Channel Five series Sea Patrol at 8pm on Tuesday.

The Sea Patrol programme features footage taken by volunteer crew member, George Deacon on his iPhone and film shot by a cameraman who was flying with the search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, who were also involved in the rescue.

The small boat had found it difficult to turn in the very heavy swell. Unable to return to Hayle the people onboard decided to head for St Ives Harbour, but the force of the waves prevented a direct route. The boat, by then some three miles off Godrevy and taking on water, could not return in such heavy seas. The owner called the coastguard via the emergency 999 number and so began the rescue.

The search and rescue helicopter hovered above the stricken vessel until the three were safely aboard the St Ives. In seas between four and six metres in height, a line was secured to the Treeve by the lifeboat crew, under the command of coxswain Tommy Cocking, in order to tow it to the harbour. Unfortunately, by now very heavy with water, the Treeve broke free and had to be abandoned. It sank shortly afterwards.

Tommy Cocking said: “The footage from the helicopter provides a birds-eye view of the rescue, which was tricky because of the rough conditions on the day.

“Often we have to rely on people listening to our stories about a rescue when we are asking for support for our charity, but in this case viewers can see what we did for themselves. My crew did an extraordinary job that day and I’m delighted that people are going to be able to see that for themselves next week.”