Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
3rd March 2012
Search for Missing Vulnerable Man
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Selsey inshore lifeboat (ILB) Betty and Thomas Moore launched at 1.28pm to assist in a search for a missing 57 year old man reported to be vulnerable and potentially suicidal.
The man had left his home at approximately 11am threatening to end his life in the sea. The Selsey auxiliary coastguard team along with numerous police units were searching the beach and the local area. These units were further strengthened by bringing in the police helicopter and coastguard teams from Hayling Island.
On launching, the lifeboat crew immediately spotted a dinghy approximately 50 yards offshore with two young lads in it desperately paddling with a bucket trying to get back to the beach. The ILB quickly towed the dinghy to the beach and then commenced searching the shoreline for the missing man between the Bill Point and Pagham Harbour.
The search continued for over an hour and, with nothing found, the lifeboat and crew were released at 2.38pm to return to station, arriving back at 2.40pm. The ILB was rehoused straight away and once more made ready for service by 3 p.m.
CREW: G.Pearce (Helmsman), J.Albery, T.Watson.
WIND: West-southwest 4. SEA: Slight. WEATHER: Sunny, good visibility.
N.B. At approximately 3.20pm all other units involved in the search were stood down as it was discovered that the man had actually been picked up by an ambulance unit around midday and taken to St Richards Hospital but this information had not been passed to Solent Coastguard who were co-ordinating the search operation!