Person seen entering the water sparks a four-hour search for Southend RNLI
Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers were paged at 7.40pm to search for a person seen entering the water at high tide in Old Leigh approximately 4.45pm on Wednesday (24 July). The missing person had left some personal belongings onshore.
In good visibility and calm conditions Southend RNLI volunteers launched the charity’s hovercraft H-004 Vera Ravine at 8pm and headed to the last know position of the missing person to begin their search.
Dover Coastguard, coordinating the search, instructed the volunteer crew to search from Old Leigh to Southend pier while Canvey and Southend Coastguard teams searched the shoreline and Coastguard helicopter ,Rescue 163 based at Lydd, arrived on scene to carry out an aerial search of the area.
Essex Police appealed to the public for information on social media and posted a video of the missing person seen on CCTV in Old Leigh before entering the water.
Dover Coastguard extended the search area at 8.50pm tasking the RNLI volunteers to search along Southend pier then to Shoeburyness. Southend RNLI inshore rescue hovercraft H-004 and Coastguard Rescue 163 carried out parallel search patterns between the pier and Shoeburyness. Once the search was complete H-004 Vera Ravine was tasked to search along the Ray back to Old Leigh.
With nothing found by 11.30pm Southend RNLI hovercraft Vera Ravine was instructed to return to station, refuel and standby while Essex police investigated a lead from a member of public who had contacted the police regarding the social media appeal.
All search parties were stood down at 12.30am when the missing person was located safe at their home.
Southend-on-Sea volunteer hovercraft Commander said: ‘We carried out a thorough search between Old Leigh and Shoeburyness in very good weather conditions. Thankfully the person was eventually found safe at their home. Our volunteer RNLI crew both onshore and on the hovercraft worked hard as a team and completed a great job’.
If you see someone in trouble or have concerns for the safety of someone at sea or on the coast, call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard. Your call could save someone’s life.
Notes to editors
- Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station has been operating since 1879. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://southendlifeboat.org/
- Southend-on-Sea RNLI inshore rescue Hovercraft H-004 Vera Ravine has been saving lives since 2004.
RNLI media contacts
- For more information please contact: Nigel Gilchrist, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Southend-on-Sea RNLI, 07765875300 or [email protected],
- Hatti Mellor | RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
- Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead - South East, on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
RNLI online
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
RNLI at 200
On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.
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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.