Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
6th August 2015
Both Selsey Lifeboats Respond to Report of Youth Cut Off by the Tide
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The RNLI Lifeboats had just completed a rescue demonstration with the Coastguard Helicopter and Coastguard teams from Littlehampton and Selsey when, at 7.24 p.m. on 6th August 2015, Solent Coastguard requested that both boats proceed to the Medmerry Nature Reserve where a boy was reported to be cut off by tide.
The All-weather Lifeboat, 'Voluntary Worker', arrived on scene at 7.36 p.m. and the Inshore Lifeboat, 'Betty and Thomas Moore', three minutes later. The ILB was able to close the entrance and spotted the boy inside the inlet on the western side. The weather on scene was wind westerly force 4-5 sea state moderate with good visibility.
The Helmsman decided to enter the reserve to evacuate the boy as there was a risk he would try to swim across. With the tide ebbing there was a considerable amount of water rushing back out to the sea estimated at 5-6 knots.
At 7.42 p.m. the boy was recovered to the ILB and, due to the tidal conditions, the Helmsman headed back out to open water. The ILB headed back along the coast to an area of beach where the Selsey Coastguard Team were waiting.
Both Lifeboats returned to station at 8.00 p.m. and were rehoused straight away.
AWL CREW: Willy Pledger (Coxswain), Geoff Mellett (Mechanic), Craig Sergeant, Dan Langford, Max Wiseman, Kristina Dolan and Harry Emmence.
ILB CREW: Gary Pearce (Helmsman), Sam Troughton-Smith and Andy Lee.
Video of this service call courtesy of Max Gilligan, Crew Member and LPO.