Selsey inshore lifeboat “Betty and Thomas Moore” launched at 1858 to search for an eleven year old girl reported to have been swept into the sea from the boat launching ramp at West Sands.The report had come from a security guard on the West Sands caravan site who reported finding a five year old boy standing on the ramp looking out to sea and shouting that his sister had gone into the sea.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 1906 along with Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 104. Both the lifeboat and helicopter carried out a search close into the shoreline two miles to the west of the boat ramp then back to it and one mile to the east of it. At approximately 1940 the helicopter was sent off to another incident to evacuate an injured RNLI crewmember of Eastbourne lifeboat. The Selsey ILB carried out a further search to the west of the boat ramp. At 2002 it was decided to call off the sea search and just to continue with a beach search being carried out by Selsey Coastguard team.
The lifeboat was released at 2002 to return to station, arriving back at 2010 rehoused straight away and was ready for service by 2030.
CREW: D.Lamdin (Helmsman), W.Moir, C.Sergeant.
WIND: Southwest 5. SEA: Moderate. WEATHER: Cloudy.