Two shouts for Littlehampton RNLI within forty-five minutes.

At 12:35pm on Monday 27 August the stations Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew launched following a call from The UK Coastguard reporting a broken-down yacht that was three miles south of the harbour entrance. On arrival at the advised location the casualty could not be located. After VHF radio contact between the lifeboat and the UK Coastguard, it was confirmed that the casualty had drifted on the tide and the lifeboat was diverted to the revised position. Once the casualty was located the lifeboat crew rigged up a tow line and commenced the journey back to Littlehampton Harbour, where the Coastal Rescue Team were on hand when the casualty moored at Littlehampton Yacht Club. The lifeboat returned to the station at 2:20pm.

The stations D Class Ray of Hope lifeboat launched to the second incident at 1:25pm to assist the Police and Ambulance Service in recovering an adult male who had been seen walking into the sea, two miles south west of the harbour. At the scene one of the lifeboat crew went ashore, and the casualty was reported to be safely secured within the ambulance and the police were in attendance. The lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station at 1:37pm

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.