Two Rescued from Seven Sisters Cliffs as Tide Cuts Them Off
On Sunday afternoon, Eastbourne RNLI sprang into action after two people were trapped by the rising tide beneath the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs. At 3:05pm, Solent Coastguard received an urgent iPhone SOS alert that set the rescue in motion.
Daring Lifeboat Launch into Rough Seas
The D Class Inshore Lifeboat ‘David H’ raced into choppy waters, determined to reach the stranded pair. Backup was called in, with the Trent-class All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) ‘Esme Anderson’ and Newhaven Lifeboat standing by. But fate had other plans.
Drama as All Weather Lifeboat Redirected
Just as ‘Esme Anderson’ entered Sovereign Harbour, it was diverted to rescue two people stranded on a broken-down personal watercraft near the harbour entrance. Battling difficult conditions, the crew struggled to attach a tow but managed to handle the tougher rescue mission.
Helicopter Winch Ends Tense Ordeal
Meanwhile, the ‘David H’ reached the cliffs where a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 163 was already circling. The helicopter winched the trapped individuals to safety and handed them over to Coastguard Rescue Officers. With the airlift complete, the lifeboat was stood down, ending a well-coordinated multi-agency rescue under relentless conditions.
