Two men were rescued around 15 miles off Bermuda after their small boat broke down yesterday.

The 22-foot boat used a cellphone to contact shore, although they did not know their exact position, and signalled their position with a smoke flare.

A fishing boat returning to Bermuda diverted and towed the small craft back to shore.

A spokesman for Harbour Radio said the two men on board had only a portable VHF radio with failing batteries.

He added that VHF signals can be used to pinpoint the position of a boat, and that it was recommended that vessels travelling offshore should have an more powerful, fully installed, radio.

The spokesman said: “Cellphone communications are not considered as reliable as an installed VHF radio.”

The drama at Challenger Banks, southwest of the Island, happened around 2.30pm. The boat was brought back to harbour in Great Sound around 7pm last night.