LIFEBOAT crews rushed to the aid of a lone sailor whose engine had cut out in thick fog.

The volunteer crew received their first call-out of the year when they were tasked with rescuing a 30ft motor boat which had suffered engine failure south of Seaford Head.

The failure left the boat’s owner without their radio or navigation equipment.

The David and Elizabeth Acland lifeboat was launched at 2.45pm.

A spokesman for the charity said the sea was calm but crews had to contend with poor visibility due to fog.

Despite this, the vessel was quickly found and one of the crew was transferred onboard to help regain communications while the boat was towed back to Newhaven Harbour.

On the way back, they also scooped an old barnacle-covered life-ring out of the water after the item was reported to them by a passing fishing boat.

They returned the stranded vessel to its berth at 5.15pm.

RNLI volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom.