TWO Royal Navy Sea Kings scrambled to rescue the crew of a crippled cargo ship as January storms lashed the British Isles.

The container ship MSC Napoli began to take on water worryingly about 40 miles south of Lizard Point in Cornwall.

The English Channel began pouring through a hole 3ft x 18in in the Napoli’s side and her 26 crew took to the lifeboats, fearing the vessel would sink.

Within minutes two Sea Kings of 771 Naval Air Station from RNAS Culdrose were on the scene despite ferocious conditions in the Channel – the wind was gusting up to 50mph and the waves and swell were up to 50ft.

The aircrews found the lifeboat being tossed about and although the Napoli’s sailors were safe, PO(ACMN) Jay O’Donnell, who was winched down to the craft, decided evacuation was the best course.

Over the next 45 minutes Rescue 194 winched 13 merchantmen to safety; when it was finished Rescue 193 moved in to haul the remaining 13 sailors, including Napoli’s master.

“Once we came alongside the lifeboat, we were going up and down 50ft in the dips of the swell and tops of the waves while we tried to remain on station,” said pilot Capt Damian May RM.

All 26 Napoli crew were safely ferried back to Culdrose where they were wrapped in blankets given warm food and drinks and dry clothes.

After some phoned their families to recount their rescue, all were taken to the Seamen’s Mission in Falmouth and later to a local hotel.

“I am very proud of my crews for conducting a textbook rescue in such demanding conditions,” said 771’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Chris Godwin.

As for the 62,000-tonne Napoli, she was bound for Portugal carrying 2,400 containers when cracks had begun appearing in her hull – cracks which developed into a sizeable gash through which water poured in.

Tugs were sent to salvage the vessel which was listed as carrying a dangerous cargo, including pesticides.