Selsey inshore lifeboat Betty and Thomas Moore launched at 7.21am at the request of Solent Coastguard to assist 4 young persons stranded at the entrance to Pagham Harbour.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 7.28am to find three 13 year old boys stranded on a shingle spit on the Selsey side of the harbour’s entrance. A fourth boy had swum across the entrance and was safe on the Pagham side.
At 7.30am the volunteer lifeboat crew recovered the 3 remaining youths and transported them across the entrance to the Pagham side, reuniting them with the fourth boy. Once all were safe ashore the crew discovered that the youngster who swam across the harbour entrance was very cold and wet (also wiser) but otherwise unharmed. He was therefore wrapped in a survival blanket and fitted out with a crew lifejacket to prevent him getting any colder.
One of the crew then escorted the boys to the Pagham Yacht Club where Solent Coastguard had arranged for a local police unit to meet them and take them home.
Betty and Thomas Moore was released from service at 8.37am and returned to station at 8.51am where she was rehoused and once more made ready for service at 9.15am.
CREW: G.Pearce (Helmsman), W.Moir, S.Troughton-Smith.
WIND: Southwest 0-1. SEA: Calm. WEATHER: Sunny.