A group of holidaymakers had a lucky escape after their hire boat capsized and sank in high winds on the Norfolk Broads.

The two adults and two teenagers were on a 24ft sailing cruiser, Wood Rose, when it was struck by a powerful gust near How Hill, on the River Ant.

All four sailors - who were from a Christian group on a week-long trip - ended up in the water but were helped out of the river by boaters in a following vessel.

Eastern Daily Press: Ezra Bailey at the refloated yacht, Wood Rose, from Hunter's Yard, after she sank at How Hill Staithe. Ezra Bailey at the refloated yacht, Wood Rose, from Hunter's Yard, after she sank at How Hill Staithe. (Image: Denise Bradley)

A Broads Authority Ranger also arrived on the scene and helped to retrieve items which floated out of the stricken vessel.

The boat, which had been hired from the Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust (NHFT), turned on its side and sank until almost all of it had disappeared below the water.

The incident happened on Tuesday, as Wood Rose - a traditional gaff-rigged sailing cruiser with no engine - was sailing between How Hill and Ludham Bridge.

The crew members - who are from all over the UK - belonged to a Christian sailing holiday group called the Kestrels Cruise, and they had rented the yacht from the trust, which is based at Hunter's Yard in Ludham. All were wearing lifejackets.

They were sailing for one week, from the yard to Barton Broad and back again. They were on the return journey when the boat encountered trouble. 

READ MORE: Boat with five people onboard sinks on Norfolk Broads

Neville Khambatta, chairman of the trust - which maintains a fleet of wooden sailing yachts from the 1930s, said: "It was blowing hard yesterday.

"The boat came out of an area sheltered by trees into the open countryside and was hit by a huge gust of wind and it went over."

He said that, as far as he was aware, no calls had been made to the emergency services.

"Everyone is safe. It was a drama, not a crisis," he added.

Eastern Daily Press: Ezra Bailey, left, and Andrew Tween, bail out the refloated yacht, Wood Rose, from Hunter's Yard, after she sank at How Hill Staithe.Ezra Bailey, left, and Andrew Tween, bail out the refloated yacht, Wood Rose, from Hunter's Yard, after she sank at How Hill Staithe. (Image: Denise Bradley)

READ MORE: Boat sinks on the Broads after getting caught on quay by high tide

Staff from the yard went to the scene and managed to refloat the boat by towing it into the direction of the wind to bring it upright, before putting a pump on board to empty it of water.

It was then taken back to the yard.

The vessel suffered no significant damage and will be ready for its next crew on Saturday.