Penlee Lifeboat disaster 41 years on
Today we remember the lives lost at sea on 19 December 1981
Last updated 19th Dec 2022
Today marks 41 years since the Penlee Lifeboat disaster, when 16 people were lost at sea.
On 19 December 1981, the crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost attempting to rescue the crew and passengers onboard the Union Star, a stricken coaster.
The crew initially rescued four of the eight people onboard. They made a final rescue attempt, when all radio contact was lost. 10 minutes later, the lights of the Solomon Browne disappeared.
Searches launched to locate them were unsuccessful. By daybreak, the Union Star was found capsized on the rocks by Tater Du Lighthouse and wreck debris from the lifeboat began to wash ashore.
This disaster was the last time the RNLI lost an entire crew in action.
Earlier this year, a granite memorial was unveiled at Tregiffian Clifftop. It was commissioned by the families of the Penlee lifeboat crew and those aboard the Union Star.
Every year on 19 December, the Mousehole Christmas lights are dimmed in memory of the 16 people who lost their lives, leaving just the Cross and Angels shining down across the village and out to sea.