Fuel Slick Sparks Lifeboat Rush off Sussex Coast
Volunteer lifeboat crews scrambled to Rye Bay after a Mayday alert reported a suspicious fuel slick polluting the water.
Pett Level Lifeboat Dashes to Scene
At 9.49am on Sunday, the Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat was scrambled by the UK Coastguard. The crew launched swiftly to investigate a reported fuel smear spotted off the Sussex coast. They conducted a thorough, methodical search around the coordinates given.
Pollution Found but Source Remains a Mystery
Significant patches of polluted water were discovered, with crews collecting samples to aid authorities in tracking down the contamination’s origin. Coastguard helicopters hovered overhead, using heat-seeking technology to scan for suspicious vessels or persons connected to the Mayday alert.
After 90 intense minutes, the search was called off. The cause of the fuel slick and its link to the initial Mayday call remain unsolved.
Fourth Lifeboat Call-Out of 2026 for Pett Level Team
This was the Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat’s fourth mission this year—highlighting their crucial role in safeguarding Sussex’s waters.
