
Overdue Base jumper leads to call for Eastbourne RNLI
Eastbourne RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged at 11.13 am on Saturday 14 May to reports of a base jumper who had failed to return from a jump at Beachy head.
The crew launched their inshore lifeboat - the Laurence and Percy Hobbs - and proceeded to the area to conduct a search. Shortly after arriving at the area they located the base jumper who had been cut off by the incoming tide but had found a safe place to wait until the tide turned and they could continue making their way back to their group. They checked the base jumper was fit and well before the base jumper said they were happy to wait and didn’t need assistance. The crew relayed that information to local coastguards who were with the rest of the group.
The crew then returned with the inshore lifeboat where it was recovered and made ready to go back in service.
Helm Dean Parker said afterwards ‘We encourage people to check the tide times and let people know where they are going and what time they should be back. Thankfully the base jumper had people waiting for them who were able to raise the alarm when they didn’t arrive at the expected time.’
Media Contacts:
Daniel Baldock, Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (07895) 369688 [email protected]
Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer London London and South East (07785) 296252 [email protected]
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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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