Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
4th October 2016
Selsey RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Pulls Young Man from the Sea
Uk Coastguard (Dover) paged the volunteer crew at Selsey RNLI at 5.15 p.m. on Tuesday 4th October 2016. They had a report of a 16-year old male in the sea close to Pagham Yacht Club.
The 'D' class inshore Lifeboat (ILB), 'Betty and Thomas Moore', launched at 5.25 p.m. and made best speed towards Pagham. The weather on scene was wind easterly force 5-6 with a moderate sea state with good visibility.
At 5.35 p.m. the ILB arrived on scene and headed towards some people waving on the beach but spotted the person in the water. At 5.37 p.m. the person was recovered to the ILB, conscious but extremely cold. The casualty was fully clothed and so the ILB crew used a survival bag to protect him from the wind chill and water spray while they headed to the beach.
The beach was reached at 5.44 p.m. and the casualty was taken ashore with the help of the Selsey Coastguard team to a waiting ambulance. The ILB crew had spotted three people on Pagham spit while recovering the casualty and were concerned for their safety. With the arrival of the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter both they and the ILB checked the spit but no one was seen.
Sussex police confirmed that it was two of their officers with another adult on the spit and were safely ashore and so the helicopter and the ILB were released from the incident at 5.59 p.m. The ILB returned to station at 6.20 p.m. and was rehoused straight away.
Rob Archibald (Helmsman), Colin Pullenger and Harry Emmence.
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