Firefighters helped a boat owner pump out water of his yacht which had begun to sink in Ipswich Haven Marina today.Firefighters from the service's headquarters in Colchester Road station arrived at the scene at 3.20pm.

FIREFIGHTERS helped a boat owner pump out water of his yacht which had started to sink in Ipswich Haven Marina.

Firefighters from the service's headquarters in Colchester Road station arrived at the scene at 3.20pm today to assist with the rescue of the 100ft wooden yacht, the Marguerite Explorer, which had sprung a leak.

Karl Rolfe, assistant divisional officer, said: “There were concerns it was going to sink. The crew used a portable pump to get the water out.”

Water rose to about 5ft in the engine room, causing considerable damage inside. The leak was caused due to a problem with the automatic pump.

Christopher Dean, the boat's owner, was alerted about the incident and travelled down from his home in Norfolk to see the damage.

The boat had been moored up at Ipswich Haven Marina when the leak was spotted. Fortunately firefighters arrived before it managed to sink.

Mr Dean said: “It sprung a bit of a leak but it is fine now. The automatic pumps stopped, which allowed it to sink into the water a little, but water was pumped out before the problem escalated.

“I want to thank Debbage Yachting for their assistance and of course the fire brigade.”

He has owned the 1934 Danish gaff ketch for four years.