18th May, 2008. David Knowles, survivor of the 1998 “Signature” yacht disaster today visited Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station to meet his rescuers and donate £10,000 to help save others at sea.

On April 3rd 1998, the 46’ yacht “Signature”, operating a corporate hospitality trip with nine guests on board, attempted to leave the river Tyne in horrendous weather conditions, despite warnings being issued to her skipper. As the yacht passed between the Tyne piers it almost capsized in the huge seas, and a wave washed three men off the deck. None of them were wearing lifejackets or safety harnesses.

A massive rescue effort was initiated. Tynemouth RNLI’s all weather lifeboat launched and within minutes picked the three men out of the sea. Of the three, only David Knowles survived.

Ten years on, David has only just found himself able to revisit the scene where he came close to losing his life.

In an emotional visit to Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station, David, from Langley on Tyne, near Hexham, brought a busload of family and friends with him to meet his rescuers, notably Michael Nugent, then the volunteer crewman who pulled David from the sea, now full time coxswain of the station.

David was taken on the current all weather lifeboat “Sprit of Northumberland” to where his rescue took place, and on his return handed a cheque for £10,000 for Tynemouth RNLI station to use to help save others at sea, saying “This represents £1000 for every year that I have been alive since being rescued”.

He added: “In the ten years I’ve had since the disaster my family has flourished, I’ve got new grandkids and my businesses have survived.

“The lifeboat crewmembers are a tremendous set of guys and it’s great to meet the man who fished me out of the sea.

“I’ve been out on a friend’s yacht once since the rescue but I’ve learnt the lesson and made sure that I wore a lifejacket and safety harness”.

David also remembered Peter Curry and Alan Barwick who were tragically drowned.

RNLI coxswain Michael Nugent said: “It’s been really great to meet David after all this time.

“He was very lucky to have survived, and we’re really grateful for this donation which will be used locally to help save lives at sea”.

An spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI station said: “The “Signature” tragedy was one of the worst incidents on the Tyne in living memory.

“Everyone at Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station was delighted to meet David Knowles, his family and friends.

“Our volunteer crewmembers rarely get to meet survivors and David’s visit really means a lot to them.

"The role of all RNLI crew volunteers is to help save lives at sea and they train hard in their own time to do this. Their reward is helping people who have got into trouble, but it's equally satisfying when the casualty says thank you with such a big donation”