Just 20 minutes to leave sinking boat in Torrox

A FISHING boat sank within 20 minutes off the coast of Torrox – but thankfully all seven crew members escaped unhurt.

The boat, from Caleta de Velez, was four kilometres from the shore, in water 70 metres deep and with a flooded engine – meaning the only option was to get out, and fast.

“The motor failed and we soon realised it’d be impossible to bail out all the water,” said skipper Jose Martin Martin, 51, whose boat was worth 360,000 euros.

“It was certainly a bit of a panic, but we knew the main thing was to stay calm,” he added.

Another fishing boat was able to rescue two crew members from the sinking vessel, while the five others managed to get into a dinghy.