Shoreham RNLI Lifeboats launched to join search for missing man at Hove

The lifeboat crews carried extensive searches from east to west and were joined by Brighton lifeboat, the coastguard rescue helicopter, Sussex Police, the police helicopter, Shoreham and Newhaven coastguard teams, Sussex Police and other fishing vessels in the search. They were all stood down around 2.30am on Sunday apart from Shoreham all weather lifeboat, the coastguard teams and the coastguard rescue helicopter which continued searching. They were eventually stood down around 4am after nothing was found.

The inshore lifeboat was then launched again on Sunday 17 January at 8am to resume the search around the canal area of Southwick before doing a shoreline search along with the coastguard teams, the coastguard rescue helicopter and Newhaven lifeboat.

The search was called off on Sunday afternoon after nothing was found by the teams. However police believe the man and his dog were sadly swept out to sea after viewing CCTV from the area where he was last seen.

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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