Newhaven Lifeboat Launch to Kite Surfer
RNLI Newhaven was tasked at 3.45pm on Thursday 17 December to Tide Mill in Seaford Bay following a report, from a concerned member of the public, of a kite surfer potentially in trouble.
The David and Elizabeth Acland Severn class lifeboat and her volunteer crew launched with a search brief. The supposed casualty had not been seen leaving the water by the concerned member of the public who feared they may have run into difficulty.
The lifeboat searched from Newhaven West Beach to Splash Point with nothing found. The search was supported on the shore by HM Coastguard, who conducted a shoreline search from Newhaven East Pier in an easterly direction, including the beach and car parking areas.
Lee Blacknell, Duty Coxswain, said, ‘We were setting out to conduct our search in fading light. In a south westerly of 15-20 knots with a slight sea.’
A fisherman reported that a kite surfer had got out of the water. With no casualty found, HM Coastguard decided to stand down all units.
Lee Blacknell, Duty Coxswain, said ‘The member of the public who called in their concern, did the right thing and with the best intent. We would much rather launch to a false alarm than react when it is too late.’
The Lifeboat returned to the station. Crew were back available on pagers at 5.35pm.
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