Norfolk chaplain helps rescued seafarers
 2007: Great Yarmouth Port Chaplain, Rev Peter Paine has provided care and support to a crew of Polish seafarers who were plucked to safety after the MSV Jork sank in the North Sea on Sunday.
The 2,000 tonne vessel, which had been carrying grain from Lubeck to New Holland in Hull, collided with an unmanned gas platform on Saturday night and sunk at about 8am on Sunday.
The seven strong crew, including the captain, were rescued by helicopter and brought ashore. When the men were safely ashore, the Coast Guard contacted Peter to ask for help in clothing and housing the rescued men.
The Revd Paine said: "Some of the men were in shock after their ordeal. The first priority was to find somewhere for them to stay. Great Yarmouth's mayor Paul Garrord is a hotelier and he offered emergency accommodation for the men for the night."
Because the seafarers only had the clothes they were standing up in, Peter, with help from his Felixstowe colleague, Geoff Moore, provided a supply of fresh clothes and phone cards so that the seafarers could contact their families.
"The men were very grateful for our help and support," said Revd Paine, "They had lost all their possessions and had obviously been through an ordeal. We hope to support them until they are in a position to be repatriated and reunited with their families." | 