The eleven Italian crew and one boy attempted to either swim to shore or climb from one of the ship's masts to the pinnacle of Lye Rock. One of the sailors tried to help the fourteen-year-old boy, Domenico Catanese to shore but both drowned. Two crew made it onto Lye Rock but it was clear that they would not make it to safety without help. Three local men led by Thomas Brown were joined by a coastguard and once the tide was low enough, they battled wind, waves and darkness to climb Lye Rock. Not understanding any Italian, they reassured the two stricken sailors by grasping their hands. Seven other men were discovered on a ledge lower down the rock and Charles Hambly, a quarryman at nearby Long Grass Quarry was lowered on a rope. All seven sailors were successfully lifted up the cliff and from here, they were taken to the mainland via breeches buoy.[2]
