out of fuel on a fishing trip on Saturday.

The Pembroke man had been out on his 20-foot boat The Baby Breeze and had been listening regularly to his radio, according to Harbour Radio.

He heard the weather was worsening and was heading back to the Island when he felt stronger winds and the extra power needed meant he did not have enough fuel.

Harbour Radio said the man found that his radio was no longer working and fired one of his three flares.

This was spotted by at least a dozen sharp-eyed members of the public who called Police and Harbour Radio.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said: "We issued broadcasts to vessels in the area but there was no response.'' However a fishing vessel Atargatis , which was pulling into dock at Fairylands, returned to sea to look for the distressed boat.

The fisherman fired his second flare and the crew of Atargatis moved in to tow him back to safety, while Marine Police stood by.

Stressing the need to carry emergency equipment, the Harbour Radio spokesman said: "Only two of the three flares were working but it shows how useful this equipment is. His radio had stopped working but he had the flares on board.

"The weather was worsening and there was rain and thunderstorms later in the evening.''