The RNLI crew at Selsey were paged 8.22 p.m. on Tuesday 1st September. Solent Coastguard had received an emergency phone call from two local Coastguards Officers out jogging saying that they had seen a red flare to the north-east of Selsey Lifeboat Station in the Pagham harbour area.
The inshore Lifeboat, with a crew of three volunteers, launched at 8.39 p.m. and proceeded towards Pagham Harbour. While conducting a search they observed several Chinese lanterns in the sky inland, clearly seeing the flame with the night vision googles. The weather search they observed several Chinese lanterns in the sky inland, clearly seeing the flame with the night vision googles. The weather scene was calm, smooth sea state and excellent visibility.
After reporting this to Solent Coastguard the inshore Lifeboat was requested to search close inshore as far as the Bognor Pier. After this search was completed at 9.37 p.m., with nothing sited, the Lifeboat was stood down.
The inshore Lifeboat departed the Bognor area and arrived back at Selsey at 10.01 p.m. and was rehoused straight away.
CREW: John Reeves (Helmsman), Colin Pullenger and Harry Emmence.