Selsey RNLI Inshore lifeboat launched to assist Kite boarder
The Inshore lifeboat (ILB) launched at 7.29pm on Sunday 30 June after the UK Coastguards received a report that a Kite boarder was in difficulties off Pagham harbour.
The ILB made best speed to Pagham arriving on scene at 7.42pm .Nothing could be seen in the immediate area accept whilst on route they passed a person on the beach at Park copse at the eastern point of Selsey so went back to talk to the person. The man said he had been having problems on his Kite board and his friend helped him ashore with his paddle board. After reporting this to the Coastguard the ILB was released at 7.54pm.
The ILB was immediately tasked to conduct a search for a possible person in the water in the vicinity of Bognor pier after clothes and a mobile phone were found on the beach. The weather on scene was wind westerly force 4-5 sea state slight in good visibility. The ILB searched along the shore line gradually stepping out until they were a mile off shore. At this stage they requested the assistance of the All-weather lifeboat (ALB) which launched at 8.50pm.
At 10.08pm both lifeboats and the Selsey Coastguard team were released after the police interrogated the Mobile phone and guaranteed the male would not be in the water. Both boats returned to station the ILB beaching at 10.35pm and the ALB at 10.43pm.
The crews today were ILB Helmsman James Albrey, Andy Lee and Harry Emmence.
ALB Coxswain Rob Archibald, 2nd Cox Dave Lamdin, Mechanic Geoff Mellett, Will Moir, Neil Hopcraft and Terry Healy (Trainee)
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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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