Shoreham RNLI kept busy as they respond to three service calls

On Wednesday 24 June the first of three shouts for the volunteer crew at Shoreham RNLI was to the report of a woman in distress in the water just off of Brooklands in East Worthing. Shoreham RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat, Joan Woodland, was launched to woman. The volunteer crew successfully located the woman, rescued her out of the water and took her ashore, where the crew were met with emergency services.

The second shout came shortly after as the volunteer crew on the inshore lifeboat were tasked to three people who had got into difficulty while paddleboarding on the River Adur, just near the Sussex Yacht Club in Shoreham. The people were struggling to paddle against the tide. They were taken onto the lifeboat, brought back to Shoreham lifeboat station, where they were further checked over.

The third shout happened when Shoreham RNLI’s All-Weather lifeboat Tamar class lifeboat, Enid Collett, was carrying out a training exercise. They were tasked to the report of a missing paddleboarder at Saltdean. The crew carried out an extensive search of the area before being informed by the local coastguard team that they had successfully located the paddleboarder safely on the beach near Brighton Marina.

We want everyone to enjoy their time on the coast and to stay safe. The RNLI is urging anyone visiting the coast this summer to make sure they keep themselves and their families safe by being water smart and following their beach safety advice.  

• Visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.  

• Check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.  

• For activities like paddleboarding or kayaking we recommend you wear a wetsuit, buoyancy aid or lifejacket and carry a means of calling for help in a waterproof pouch and keep it on you. Tell someone what you are doing, where you are going and when you expect to return.  

• If you are going open water swimming, use a wetsuit to keep you warm, wear a bright coloured swim hat and take a tow float to store personal items including a phone for emergencies.  

• If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and Float.  

• In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.  

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Notes to editors

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For further information, please contact:

Kate Barkley, RNLI Communications Staff Member for RNLI, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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