Littlehampton RNLI respond to two shouts in recent days

On Wednesday 18 April following a call from the UK Coastguard, Littlehampton’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew launched at 2.24pm and headed out in fine weather conditions to the reported location, off Ferring beach. The male kite surfer had fallen from his board and was unable to climb back on. On arrival at the scene it was confirmed that the casualty had become separated from his kite but was safely ashore. The lifeboat crew were tasked to recover the kite and returned to the station at 4.45pm, where the lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service.

Following this, on Friday 20 April the lifeboat crew were paged by the UK Coastguard at 2.28pm reporting that there was a person in the sea opposite East Beach Café. The stations D Class lifeboat Ray of Hope and volunteer crew launched at 2.36pm. At the scene the crew were faced with a middle-aged male, who had fallen from his paddle board and was in some distress, feeling cold, tired and quite unwell. The crew took the casualty aboard the lifeboat and administered first aid. The lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station with the casualty. In the meantime, the Coastguard Rescue Team had called for an ambulance to meet the casualty at the lifeboat station, where he was handed over to the para-medics for further care and treatment.

Harry Gregory, RNLI Community Safety Officer said, “If you are planning to paddle board in the sun please take the following steps to protect yourselves:

• Wear a suitable flotation device (a Buoyancy Aid is recommended for SUP)
• Fit and use a coiled board leash
• Have at least one accessible means of calling for help (you can currently collect a free waterproof phone pouch from our station during visiting hours)
• Protect yourself from cold water with a winter wetsuit
• Check the wind and tides and understand their implications. If in doubt, ask!”

Further RNLI SUP safety advice here: https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/stand-up-paddle-boarding

RNLI media contacts

• Ray Pye, Littlehampton RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer / 07854 074688, email [email protected]

• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 email [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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.