LIFEBOAT crews have told of the dramatic moment they rescued crew members from the stricken car transporter ship in the Solent.

Two crews from Calshot RNLI were called to the scene after the Hoegh Osaka ran aground off Bramble Bank at 9.20pm.

Their words come as they admit they are unsure when the stricken ship is likely to be floated again as the rescue operation continues.

The crews- manned by volunteers - arrived to find the HM Coastguard already overhead rescuing the ships crew from the higher part of the vessel with many crying for help or to get attention and flashing torch lights to get attention.

But approaching the starboard side they saw another man hanging from one of the decks.

Daily Echo:

RNLI member Gavin Vole said: "he was hanging from a bollard and suddenly he disappeared and we couldn't see where he was.

"As we took the boat round to the ship we saw something orange and we saw he was upside down with his legs in the air on the lower deck and we tried shouting to him.

"We took the boat round again and he was responding and luckily there was an access ladder for him to come down and into the boat.

"He was in a lot of pain and although the language barrier was a problem he was saying "thank you, thank you"."

Another container ship crew member was spotted on a platform six metres up who jumped over a rail before the RNLI pulled him from the water.

Both men were passed over to the RNLI all weather lifeboat from Yarmouth which joined them in the rescue along with another Yarmouth crew and one from Cowes.

Calshot RNLI helmsman Tom Pederson said he is unable to comment over whether the ship can be re floated today, saying : "we don't know if there's any damage or what its stuck on.

"Our primary role is saving lives and if the coastguard thinks there is a risk to life we may get involved again."

He thanked his crews for their work - ,many who had been at home with their families when the call came through. He said such a major incident is a "rare occurrence" but the teams - who included a postman, refinery workers, accountant and airline pilot - had put their training into practice.

Tom a waterspouts instructor said: "we get called to countless leisure boats hitting the Bramble's Bank but this is the first commercial one I've seen in eight years volunteering.

"Thankfully it wasn't that serious but the transporter ship's crew were organised and professional and evacuated quickly."