Newhaven lifeboat launched after unmanned canoe found drifting
Newhaven’s Severn Class lifeboat ‘RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland’ and her volunteer crew were launched at 3:05pm on Sunday 5th November after a canoe was found upturned with no one aboard.
The upturned canoe was spotted 220 metres south of Brighton Marina by a passing yacht who raised the alarm.
Newhaven lifeboat transferred the old canoe on to the lifeboat. Although it was thought that the canoe had not been used for some time, searches commenced initially half a mile and then one mile from the shoreline in the area where it was recovered.
With good visibility nothing was found and the lifeboat was stood down at 4:30pm and returned station.
Deputy Second Coxswain Lee Blacknell commented “The yacht made the right decision calling this in. If in doubt always contact the Coastguard as we would rather launch and complete a search to ensure that no one is in distress”
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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.
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