Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
17th May 2014
Both Selsey Lifeboats Launched to Search for Missing Divers
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The Selsey RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch both the offshore and inshore Lifeboats after the dive boat 'Final Answer' sent a Pan Pan call reporting two divers missing, having failed to surface at the correct time.
The 'D' class inshore Lifeboat 'Betty and Thomas Moore' launched at 2.04 p.m. and the Tyne class Lifeboat 'Voluntary Worker' launched at 2.06 p.m. on Saturday 17th May 2014. 'Final Answer' was diving on the Outer Mulberry three miles north east of Selsey.
The tide at the time would bring the divers towards Selsey and with good visibility and a smooth sea the crew started to search immediately after launching. After four minutes afloat a crew member on the 'Voluntary Worker' spotted the two divers straight ahead of the Lifeboat.
When the lifeboats arrived alongside the divers they said they were both well and were happy to wait in the water to be recovered by the 'Final Answer'. 'D' class Helmsman Gary Pearce said the divers told him they surfaced on time but not close to the boat. They waved but were not seen by the others on the dive boat. Gary said they were equipped with surface marker buoys and were tethered together so this made finding them easier. The divers had drifted 1.75 miles from the dive site.
After the two divers had been recovered to the 'Final Answer' Solent Coastguard released both the Lifeboats to return to station. The inshore Lifeboat rehoused at 2.40 p.m. and the offshore Lifeboat rehoused at 3.45pm and both boats were cleaned and made ready for service.
ILB CREW: Gary Pearce (Helmsman), Andy Lee, Dan Langford (Trainee).
AWL CREW: Willy Pledger (Coxswain), Colin Pullenger (2nd Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, James Albery, Carol Tipping, John Reeves, Kristina Dolan (Trainee), Max Wiseman (Trainee).
Video of this service call courtesy of Max Gilligan, Crew Member and LPO.