Littlehampton RNLI respond following fears of person in the sea

The RNLI station’s D Class lifeboat Ray of Hope and volunteer crew launched eight minutes later and headed out to the reported location, Banjo Groyne, just west of East Beach cafe, opposite Banjo Road car park.

On arrival at the scene, the crew commenced the search close to the water’s edge, but it proved inconclusive. The crew made contact with the police and were informed the casualty was safely ashore in the hands of the officers. The lifeboat was requested to stand down by the UK Coastguard and returned to the station at 2.55pm where it was refuelled and made ready for service.

RNLI media contacts

• Ray Pye, Littlehampton RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer / 07854 074688, email press@littlehamptonlifeboat.org.uk

• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 email tim_ash@rnli.org.uk

• Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 620 7416, 07786 668825 email paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email pressoffice@rnli.org

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland