TWO men and a boy on a fishing expedition in the Solent were towed to safety by Cowes RNLI Lifeboat today (Saturday).

Their six-metre motorboat not only had problems with its engine but also began to drift and take on water at the stern.

To add to the trio’s concerns, one of their number had diabetes and carried no medication.

The lifeboat launched just after 4 pm and found the drifting boat near Norris Buoy, east of Cowes Harbour.

The diabetes sufferer was given glucose, and the boat was towed to Trinity Landing.

The lifeboat returned to station at 5.10 pm.

Eventually the Hamble lifeboat, which also responded to the emergency, towed the boat across to the River Itchen in Hampshire, where it had come from.