A FORMER Wellington couple on their way home to Australia after a three-month stay in the UK have been involved a sea drama which ended with a ship sinking.

Tony and Lil Knott, who emigrated in 1989, were on board ship approaching Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island, over the weekend, when it emerged another vessel was in trouble.

Lil said: “The captain made an announcement as we were having dinner Saturday evening. He said he had a distress message about a supply vessel in trouble taking on water. 

“We had to turn around to go and assist about three hours back. When we were almost there the captain announced the ship had sunk so it was now a rescue operation. 

“There was a tanker already there when we arrived but it didn’t have any means of rescuing the crew. There was a military plane flying around and over the ship and a drone was sent from our ship to see exactly where the life raft was. “Thankfully the rescue tender from the ship picked up the crew and they are now safely on board the Sea Princess. Everyone was out on deck and they were welcomed with a big cheer from all. 

“I don’t know now if we will make it to Curacao as we will be so far behind but anyway a bit of excitement.”