Two yachtsmen have been saved from treacherous waters off the coast of Malaysia after sending a mayday call to the Falmouth coastguard.

Thomas Jordan, from Southampton, and David Rauch, from Vallonte, France, were sailing from Lumut to Lankawi, along the western Malaysian coast, when they got into trouble.

The pair initially tried to contact the Malaysian authorities after their 38-foot sloop, Blue, sank 10 miles off the coast on a routine sailing trip.

After getting no response they called Falmouth Coastguard using a pre-programmed number in their satellite telephone.

They were eventually rescued from a life raft by a local fishing vessel which had been alerted to their plight.

UK coastguards alerted Malaysian authorities

Falmouth Coastguard officer Ken Bazeley said: "They struck an object in the water and sank within 10 minutes, just enough time to get in the life raft.

"They were unable to get any attention locally.

"Knowing we were here they called us and we were able to contact the search and rescue operation out there."

The Malaysian authorities arranged for a fishing vessel to pick up the stranded men and transfer them to a police launch.

Well equipped

Mr Bazeley said the pair did not need hospital treatment after their ordeal.

"They were well equipped and well prepared for anything, so we just needed to alert the local authorities.

"We had a position from them, so they made the rescue a lot simpler," he said.

Mr Bazeley added that since their rescue, the men had contacted Falmouth Coastguard to thank them.

The vessel was registered in Falmouth.