A crew from the Oxford Ladies Boat Club needed rescuing from a RNLI Lifeboat crew after their boat started to sink.

While passing through Putney on an exercise on Wednesday, April 1, the crew from Chiswick noticed the Oxford University Women's Boat Club carrying out some unusual manoeuvres just beyond Fulham railway bridge.

The boat had become swamped after strong wind against the tide had created choppy conditions. Three waves had poured into the boat, bringing an amount of water the pump used to control water levels in the bottom of the boat could not cope.

The coaches were trying to get the athletes from the boat to a nearby barge before the lifeboat came to their aid. The crew and their cox were taken on to the lifeboat and retuned to Putney, with the sunken boat recovered by coaches and taken back to Oxford's base.

RNLI helmsman Ian Owen said: "While we have rescued quite a number of rowers over the years, this is the first time I've been involved in helping such a prestigious team.

"The weather can be unpredictable on the Thames and the Oxford University team dealt with the situation as safely and calmly as possible. We wish them all the best for their upcoming race."

Chiswick Lifeboat has always been involved in the annual Boat Race, having picked up over-enthusiastic supporters from the river. This year the crew will be overseeing the RNLI's Alternative Boat Race on the day before, April 10.

The Alternative Boat Race can be viewed from the towpath in Mortlake from 5.30pm.