During production, on May 12th, 1951, four members of the cast and crew died when a wave struck the filming boat. Hugh Falkus, Charles Osborne, Diana Falkus, Bill Brendon and Sam Lee were thrown into the water and Hugh Falkus swam a mile and a half to shore to get help but by the time the rescue boats arrived, all were lost.
The actress Claire Mullan was due to leave on the ill-fated filming boat but had asked to go to the chemist beforehand. As she walked away, she heard the crew calling after her but didn't turn back. When she arrived back at the harbour, the boat had left without her. All onboard apart from Hugh Falkus was lost.