Our dramatic photograph from 60 years ago show the the 6,000-tonne Lebanese steamer Adelfotis II which had run aground at the Groyne in South Shields as gale force winds continued to batter the North East coast during the notorious winter of 1962 and 1963.
At a time when the Tyne was still very much a busy working maritime river, the sight of a ship in trouble at the coast perhaps wasn't as uncommon as it is today. The North Sea had long proved dangerous for the region's brave seamen. Between 1740 and 2000, the North East coast from Berwick to Whitby was the setting for more than 350 shipwrecks.
Back on January 20, 1963, the Adelfotis II had first first been driven by huge waves towards the notorious Black Middens Rocks at Tynemouth, before 60mph waves swept the vessel across the river mouth to South Shields. A Chronicle photographer was on hand to photograph South Shields volunteer life brigade using a breeches buoy to rescue the ship's captain, 22-man crew, and the ship's pet dog Manuella.
