Incident 1: Shortly after 9am on Sunday, 28 July 2024 Newhaven’s all-weather lifeboat was dispatched to assist a 5-metre pleasure vessel with one person on board, located 3 nautical miles south of Newhaven. The vessel had issued a Mayday via VHF radio after it began taking on water.
As the lifeboat approached, the casualty fired a red pinpoint flare. The vessel’s occupant entered the water as the boat sank. Fortunately, their lifejacket successfully inflated, and they were located in good condition. The Newhaven RNLI retrieved the individual without requiring medical assistance. A passing yacht also provided assistance to the casualty while the lifeboat approached.
