Chiswick RNLI was called out after a large motor boat had difficulties manoeuvring under Richmond Bridge yesterday (March 16).

Crowds of onlookers on the bridge and enjoying the sunshine on the river bank watched as the vessel r banged against the bridge twice making a loud noise.

Finally the boat reversed away from the bridge and approached for a third time, making its way through safely to cheers from the crowd.

An RNLI spokesman said: ‘An RNLI London lifeboat crew was called to a report of a motor vessel pinned against Richmond Bridge by the tide this afternoon.

‘Before the crew from Chiswick lifeboat station arrived, the vessel had managed to get itself free and had begun travelling down river.

‘The lifeboat met the troubled vessel near Twickenham Bridge and noticed it had suffered some scratches on the starboard side.

‘The lifeboat crew spoke to a person on-board who said everything was now ok and that the vessel was heading to a nearby wharf down river.’

An onlooker captured the event - www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIiXndllxIQ

Chiswick Lifeboat has launched forty two times so far this year, rescuing 23 people.