TWO people were rescued by the RNLI after their boat ran aground and water began coming onboard.

A lifeboat was requested to launch from Poole RNLI on Saturday afternoon after the 30ft motorboat found itself aground.

The boat was stuck on ‘Stoney Island’ - a hard shingle bank just inside the entrance of Poole Harbour.

The vessel had been aground for some time, and as the tide came back out, water had begun to enter over the stern of the boat.

On arrival to the scene, the RNLI crew noted the conditions as “bright” but “chilly” with a “cold north westerly breeze”.

Volunteers helped the two people onboard to safety in their lifeboat, before walking out to deploy the anchor as the tide was flooding.

Dorset Echo: A volunteer walked out to deploy the anchorA volunteer walked out to deploy the anchor (Image: Poole RNLI)

They then carried out checks on-board to ensure that there was no water coming in from underneath.

As the tide came back, the anchor was recovered and the stranded boat became free.

The lifeboat crew then escorted it safely from ‘Stoney Island’ and into deeper water.

Once all was safe and well, the volunteers returned to the station and the lifeboat was made ready for service again by 5pm.

This was the 148th call out for the Poole RNLI lifeboat volunteers this year.