Brighton Water Scare Sparks Major Coastguard Search
Just after 5:30pm, HM Coastguard sounded the alarm after reports of someone entering the water near Brighton Palace Pier. The Shoreham Inshore Lifeboat was launched, while Newhaven and Shoreham Coastguard teams scrambled to the scene, backed by Coastguard helicopter 163.
High-Drama Search Between Brighton Marina and West Pier
The Coastguard helicopter and Shoreham Inshore Lifeboat combed the waters between Brighton Marina and West Pier. Meanwhile, shore teams, including Sussex Police, scoured the coastline for any sign of the person.
All Weather Lifeboat Joins the Hunt
Later, the Shoreham All Weather Lifeboat joined the search, intensifying efforts between the two piers. Despite the scale of the operation, as darkness fell the search was gradually scaled back.
Search Called Off After Two Hours
A Shoreham Lifeboat RNLI spokesperson confirmed:
“Both lifeboats were launched to search for a person reported to have fallen off Brighton Palace Pier this evening along with the Shoreham and Newhaven coastguard teams, the coastguard helicopter and Sussex Police. An extensive search was carried out at sea and along the shoreline.
Nothing was found and the search was called off after two hours. The report was good intent.”
The dramatic images and video of the intense rescue operation were captured by Sussex.News and @Sussexincidents.
