Two boys and their father were rescued off Brightlingsea on Saturday night after their yacht ran aground. The alarm was raised by the younger boy, whose father and brother were profoundly deaf. Thames Coastguard used VHF direction-finding equipment to get a cross bearing on the signal, and requested the launch of the Walton RNLI lifeboat and a rescue helicopter from ARCC Kinloss. The helicopter quickly located the vessel and illuminated the area so the lifeboat could affix a tow. Mick Carpenter, Watch Manager at Thames Coastguard said ‘This yacht was on passage from Wivenhoe to the Greenwich yacht club when they ran aground in the dark. I would like to praise the young lad who raised the alarm on behalf of his father and brother.’