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RNLI lifeboats search for missing fisherman

Lifeboats News Release

Lifeboats from Eastbourne Newhaven and Shoreham along with coastguard rescue helicopters from Lydd and Gosport were involved in a fruitless search throughout Thursday afternoon and evening for a commercial fisherman lost overboard from his vessel.

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The lifeboats were requested to launch at 12.46 pm by the rescue co-ordination centre at Dover Coastguard when the man was reported as falling overboard whilst attempting to free an obstruction around the boat’s propellers in a position approximately 30 nautical miles SSW of Eastbourne. Using computer generated models which calculate the effects of wind and tide the lifeboats, along with other commercial vessels which had arrived to help, conducted a comprehensive expanding search of the entire area. Tragically the man was not found.
 
 As darkness fell the search was abandoned and the rescue fleet returned to their respective bases. The volunteer crew of Eastbourne lifeboat arrived back at Sovereign Harbour shortly before midnight and having refuelled the boat and made it ready for service were eventually released in the early hours of Friday morning after over 12 hours of service with the grateful thanks of all concerned. 

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Bob Jeffery
Volunteer Press Officer and Launch Authority, Eastbourne

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