The 2,500 ton steam ship Epidauro ground into the rocks of Overton Cliff during the intense fog of February 13th 1913. The ship’s own small lifeboats were launched and the crew of one of these made it to the village of Port Eynon to summon help.
The Port Eynon lifeboat was immediately launched and made it to the wrecked ship just in time to save the lives of three of the Epidauro’s crew who had been slung from another of the Epidauro’s small lifeboats into the increasingly rough sea.
The remaining crew of the Epidauro stayed aboard until the tide went out, whereupon they were able to clamber from the ship and across the rocks, on which the vessel had become lodged, to safety.
The Epidauro could not be saved and was gradually lost to the sea and salvagers. Several iron plates from the ship may, however, still be found west of Slade’s Foot, directly beneath Willbower Tor.
Epidauro
