'I thought I might miss Christmas' – Axmouth fishing boat survivor thanks lifeboat crew that saved him

A 72-year-old angler has spoken out for the first time on how he survived when a fishing boat capsized and he floated on his back, without a lifejacket, for at least 40 minutes.

Brian Harding, from Chard, suffering from a broken leg, was rescued by the volunteer crew of Lyme Regis lifeboat after the 15 foot fishing vessel was overwhelmed by a wave near the mouth of the River Axe, at Axmouth.

The incident on November 14 sparked a major rescue operation involving two lifeboats, coastguards ashore and the coastguard helicopter.

Mr Harding said: "I was so lucky to be found by the lifeboat crew when I was. Another 20 minutes and it could so easily have been a very different story.

"I began to think I might miss Christmas. It really was one of those days when I thought I should have stayed in bed."

Mr Harding, whose leg was in plaster after an accident at home, was airlifted from the lifeboat and taken to hospital in Dorchester. He was discharged after a few hours.

He visited the Lyme Regis lifeboat crew on Sunday to thank them and to make a donation.

Mr Harding added: "I felt I had to meet the guys who rescued me so that I could put the issue to bed and recognise what these volunteers do out of the goodness of their hearts."

Three men were aboard the boat when it capsized. The other two men involved preferred not to comment.