Escurial Shipwreck - Portreath - 1895

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The Hayle lifeboat F.H. Harrison is launched to got to the aid of the steam ship 'Escurial' at Portreath beach.

If you look closely you can see some of the crew of the Escurial clinging to the rigging for saftey. The rescue was not successful as the lifeboat couldn't get past the surf. Breeches buoys failed to reach the ship and eventually the crew had to swim for it with rescuers forming a human chain into the sea to pluck them out. Of the 20 crew only 9 survived.

photo: John Charles Burrow

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