Uk Coastguards requested the launch of the Selsey All-Weather Tyne class Lifeboat 'Voluntary Worker' at 7.29 p.m. on Thursday 28th July. Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat had earlier been tasked to a missing windsurfer off of Bognor and asked for assistance to cover the increasing search area.
'Voluntary Worker' launched at 7.38 p.m. with a crew of seven and proceeded towards Bognor, starting the search soon after launching as the tide would bring anything in the water towards Selsey. The weather on scene was wind SW force 4 sea state moderate in good visibility.
At 7.55 p.m. the D-class Lifeboats from Littlehampton and Selsey both launched to join the search conducting a close inshore search from their stations towards Bognor Pier. Also on scene were the Littlehampton Coastguard team conducting a beach search and the Coastguard helicopter from Lydd, Rescue 163.
At 9.30 p.m., having comprehensively covered the area, all units were stood down by UK Coastguards with nothing found. Both Selsey Lifeboats returned to station at 10.14 p.m. They were rehoused, washed down and refuelled by 11.00 p.m.
AWL CREW: Geoff Mellett (Coxswain), Dave Lamdin (2nd Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, Rob Archibald, Steve Somner and Max Wiseman.
ILB CREW: Sam Troughton-Smith (Helmsman), Will Moir, Pip Skeet (Trainee) and Harry Emmence (Trainee).