Two people suffering from exhaustion were rescued by a lifeboat crew from a broken-down yacht that had drifted in choppy conditions. 

The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI all-weather lifeboat was tasked to launch by Humber Coastguard shortly after 1.35pm on Thursday. 

The crew arriving alongside the yachtThe crew arriving alongside the yacht (Image: Great Yarmouth & Gorleston RNLI) A distress call had been made from a yacht with engine failure approximately 14 miles east of Great Yarmouth. 

Upon arrival, the lifeboat crew found the yacht adrift and side-on with three-metre waves crashing against it.

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The two people on board were suffering from sea sickness and exhaustion and unable to establish a tow by themselves. 

The yacht was towed back to Great YarmouthThe yacht was towed back to Great Yarmouth (Image: Great Yarmouth & Gorleston RNLI) Second coxswain and critical care paramedic, Rod Wells, transferred over to the yacht and carried out casualty care while the volunteer crew set up the tow. 

At 2.50pm, the lifeboat and yacht began a slow journey back to Great Yarmouth, entering the South Quay at around 6.30pm. 

Coxswain Andy Mason thanked his crew "for a job well done in some challenging conditions".

It is understood that the people on board the yacht were a Dutch couple, who safely made their way back to The Netherlands on Monday.