RNLI lifeguards and volunteer crew warn public of River Arun dangers

Littlehampton East beach is a large, predominantly shingle beach that attracts families and visitors throughout the year. Situated at the mouth of the River Arun, the area presents several significant and often hidden water safety hazards.

The main danger comes from the River Arun’s strong currents. When swimmers enter the water in the first two bays near the pier structure, close to the river entrance, they can quickly be pulled away from the beach and into the flow of the river. The current is so powerful that even the strongest of swimmers struggle to swim against it. When swimming at the beach, avoid entering the water from the first two bays closest to the river. As the tide comes in, anyone in these two bays will be pulled by the strong currents into the river. Please see image below.

On 26 June, RNLI lifeguards launched their Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) after spotting two teenagers in difficulty in the mouth of the River Arun. The teenagers had been swept from West Beach into the river mouth and were struggling to swim against the strong current. RNLI lifeguards rescued the two teenagers using the IRB and provided casualty care before handing one of the teenagers into the care of emergency services.

RNLI lifeguards also advise against swimming at the west side of the River Arun at Littlehampton West Beach. There are no lifeguards on duty here and the area can be extremely dangerous when the tide is going out. Swimmers will find themselves being pulled across the river mouth and out to sea, towards Littlehampton East Beach.

Over a two-day period (11-12 July), RNLI lifeguards at Littlehampton carried out five rescues in the River Arun, including two ‘off duty’ rescues, and assisted 10 people who found themselves in difficulty in the river. All were rescued and safely returned to shore.

RNLI lifeguards carry out regular training scenarios in the river before work to ensure they are always ready to respond to incidents using the IRB. 95% of RNLI lifeguards’ work is preventative and so lifeguards provide early intervention safety advice to help prevent serious incidents occurring. It is vital that beachgoers listen to and follow their guidance, as their advice could save a life.

The River Arun and Littlehampton Harbour is a busy waterway for vessels entering and leaving. Beneath the surface, hidden hazards such as rocks, debris and submerged objects can pose a serious risk of injury. For this reason, jumping or diving into the harbour is strongly discouraged.

On Friday 17 July at 6.50pm, Littlehampton RNLI’s D-class lifeboat, Spirit of Fidelity, was launched to reports of a youth swimming in the harbour. When the volunteer crew arrived, the youth was already out of the water and in the care of HM Coastguard and the police. The crew searched the area to ensure no one else was in the river.

Nick White, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Littlehampton RNLI, said: ‘Along with our lifeguards, we have been called out to a number of incidents in the River Arun and Harbour. While we want everyone to enjoy their time on the coast, swimming in the harbour is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted.

‘We encourage everyone to enjoy the water safely by swimming at a lifeguarded beach, swimming between the red and yellow flags, and following the safety signage and advice of lifeguards. By making safer choices, we can all help to make sure that everyone enjoys the coast and returns home safely.’

This week in Littlehampton, Scania will be working with the RNLI to help share vital water safety information by wrapping one of their trailers in the RNLI’s Float to Live campaign advert imagery.

The Scania ‘Float to Live’ trailer will be parked on the beachfront in Littlehampton to act as a mobile, high impact billboard from Wednesday 22 July to Monday 27 July.

Kim Dugan, Water Safety Education Manager, added: ‘We are delighted to see the Scania Float to Live trailer visiting our local area, helping to push the Float to Live message even further this summer.

‘We know that August is the busiest month on the coast so ensuring that even more people see this vital, water safety messaging is great to see.

‘If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, remember Float To Live: Tilt your head back, submerging your ears. Relax and control your breathing. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat. Your legs may sink, but that’s ok as everyone floats differently. You can practice finding your float in a supervised location such as your local swimming pool.

‘If you see someone else in difficulty in the water whilst visiting the beach, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.’

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