Two shouts over the weekend for Littlehampton RNLI.
The first shout followed a call from the UK Coastguard reporting that a large inflatable toy had been seen drifting away from the shoreline and it was not known if anyone was on board.
Littlehampton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew launched at 12:05pm on Saturday 30 June and headed out to sea in very good weather conditions. At the reported location the lifeboat crew commenced a search of the area. Several leisure crafts were in the vicinity and were contacted about any possible sightings, but nothing was forthcoming. Nothing was found, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station at 12:54pm.
The second shout occurred at 15:07pm on Sunday 1 July when a jet skier made a 999 call to the UK Coastguard reporting that his jet ski had suffered engine failure. The stations Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew launched and headed out towards the scene half a mile south of the Littlehampton Leisure Centre. The jet ski was located very quickly, and the RNLI lifeguards were in attendance. The lifeboat crew rigged up a tow line to the jet ski and towed it back to Fisherman’s Quay in Littlehampton Harbour. The lifeboat returned to the station at 15:38 where it was refuelled and made ready for service.
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.
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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.