Crew aboard a nearby dredger noticed "Herald of Free Enterprise"s lights disappear, and notified the port authorities. They also reported that the bow doors appeared to be wide open. The alarm was raised at 19:37 local time (18:37 GMT). Rescue helicopters were quickly dispatched, shortly followed by assistance from the Belgian Navy, who were undertaking an exercise in the area. , the German captain of a nearby ferry, was commended by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and received a medal from King Baudouin of Belgium for his heroic efforts in rescuing passengers.