Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches

20th June 2020

Selsey RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Investigates Unoccupied Paddleboard

Paddleboarder Paddleboarder

The inshore Lifeboat launched at 5.50 p.m. on Saturday 19th June after the UK Coastguards received reports of a paddleboard drifting unoccupied off of the shore at Bognor Regis.

The inshore Lifeboat (ILB) made best speed to the area arriving on scene at 6.03 p.m. where nothing could be seen. Selsey and Littlehampton Coastguard teams were also tasked and Selsey Coastguard reported that they could see a kayak and guided the ILB towards it. This kayak had one person onboard fishing so the ILB carried on searching. They soon came across an unmanned paddleboard and the Coastguards on the shore confirmed that it was the paddleboard that the first informant had been concerned about. On futher investigation the Lifeboat crew found a line attached to the board which was attached to the onwner who was snorkling/spear-fishing. He wasn't showing a surface marker bouy (SMB) or dive flag(A flag) and was also alone.

After questioning the owner about this safety equipment he informed the Lifeboat crew that he had both but had accidently burst them ealier in the afternoon but had carried on spear fishing. UK Coastguards were informed and they were satisfied that this was a false alarm with good intent and so released the ILB to return to station. The ILB returned at 6.45 p.m. and was recovered straight away, washed, refuelled and made ready for the next call by 7.30 p.m.

CREW: Colin Pullenger (Helmsman), Will Moir and Neil Hopcraft.