At about 2.40am the Coastguard telephoned the Honorary Secretary of the Wick Lifeboat Station, Mr J.L. Clark, to report that the Peterhead fishing vessel, Girl Betty, (PD 376), had gone ashore at Proudfoot, Wick.  The lifeboat, City of Edinburgh, was launched at 2.55am and came up with the vessel 15 minutes later.  In choppy seas and a westerly breeze, Coxswain Stewart took the lifeboat round the rocks to seaward of the vessel, got alongside and rescued all seven men, landing them safely at 4.00am.

Attempts were made to salvage the vessel but all were unsuccessful.