Selsey reserve inshore lifeboat “Jenny Topham” was requested to launch at 2003 by Solent Coastguards to investigate a 999 call received from a public telephone in Grafton Road from an angler who had been fishing on the beach at the end of Grafton Road saying he had seen a capsized dinghy drifting past approximately 20 metres offshore. The angler then said he was returning to the beach to keep track of the dinghy.
The ILB arrived on scene at 2010 and carried out a search close to the shore between Hillfield Road and the lifeboat station. The all weather lifeboat returning from exercise also joined in and searched as close in as possible between the Bill point and the lifeboat station. At 2032 with nothing being found in the water and the local coastguard team searching along the beach not able to find the angler all search units were stood down to return to station. The ILB rehoused at 2045 and the ALB at 2050, both boats were ready for service by 2115.
It is probable that this incident was a hoax.
ILB CREW: R.Archibald (Helmsman). P.Delahunty, C.Harvey.
ALB CREW: M.Rudwick (Coxswain), D.Lamdin (2nd Coxswain), P.Pitham (Mechanic), C.Pullenger, G.Mellett, A.Lee, J.Reeves, T.Watson.
WIND: Southerly 5-6. SEA: Slight. WEATHER: Cloudy.