Littlehampton RNLI called into action twice in two hours

Littlehampton RNLI were first tasked at 3.09pm to assist a foil boarder in difficulty close to Bognor Regis pier. The volunteer crew, on D-Class lifeboat Ray of Hope, raced to the scene. They discovered that the casualty’s foil had become caught in some fishing netting. Our crew helped the casualty onto Ray of Hope and returned them back to their family who were waiting on the beach.

Our crew returned to Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station but 10 minutes later, at 4.47pm, were called into action again. The crew relaunched Ray of Hope and raced to Littlehampton East Beach where a person was struggling with a paddleboard. The crew helped the casualty onto Ray of Hope and returned them to the beach where a crew member waited with the casualty until the Coastguard arrived. Ray of Hope returned to the lifeboat station at 5.30pm.

The shouts were the first for Littlehampton RNLI volunteer Mark Nicholls as helm. He said: ‘I qualified as helm in December, and my first shout as helm quickly turned into my second! It was a busy two hours, but that’s what we’re here for - to help everyone.’

Learn how you can keep you and your loved ones safe at the coast and in the water with the RNLI’s water safety advice at: https://rnli.org/safety

ENDS

Littlehampton RNLI’s volunteer crew look after the stretch of the West Sussex coast between Bognor Regis and Worthing. Littlehampton RNLI is independent from the Coastguard and receives no government funding. To find out more about Littlehampton RNLI, see https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/april/27/10-facts-about-littlehampton-rnli-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Beth Brooks, Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI

07544 209256, [email protected]

Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager, SE & London

07724 801305, [email protected]

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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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.