Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
15th July 2022
Selsey RNLI Lifeboats Launched to Swimmer in Difficulty
.jpg "Swimmer in difficulty") |
.jpg "Swimmer in difficulty") |
UK Coastguards requested the immediate launch of the inshore lifeboat (ILB) after receiving an emergency phone call from a member of the public who sighted a swimmer wearing a black cap waving and shouting for help half a mile off the entrance of Pagham Harbour.
The ILB launched at 2.45 p.m. on Friday 15th July and proceeded at best speed to the position given. Arriving on scene at 2.52 p.m. the Lifeboat crew had no sight of anybody and asked the Coastguard to contact the first informant who said that the Lifeboat was in the area that they last saw the swimmer. A datum position was taken and passed to the Coastguard and the ILB started searching using local knowledge of the tides around the entrance. At 2.54 p.m. the Selsey all-weather Lifeboat was requested by the ILB Helmsman, and the Coastguards confirmed that they were also tasking their helicopter Rescue 175.
The all-weather Lifeboat (ALB) launched at 3.05 p.m. and immediately started searching from the boathouse while heading to Pagham. The weather on scene was wind south west 3-4, sea state slight with good visibility in sunshine. The Selsey Coastguard rescue team were requested to go to both sides of the harbour and conduct beach searches.
At 3.40 p.m. the casualty was found lying on the beach, conscious but exhausted having made it to the shore. Rescue 175 landed on the beach and the paramedic air crewman checked the man over who had swallowed a lot of sea water during his ordeal. It was decided to airlift him to St Richard's Hospital.
The Lifeboats were stood down to return to station with the ILB returning at 4.08 p.m. The ALB was on the way back when the Coastguards retasked them to a position close to the entrance to Chichester Harbour where the coastguards had received a DSC distress alert from a vessel. The Lifeboat made best speed to the area, en route they were informed by the Coastguard that Hayling Rescue had picked up two people from the west pole and had the vessel they were on under tow. The ALB was stood down to return to station, arriving back at 5.25 p.m.
ILB CREW: Rob Archibald (Helmsman), Max Wiseman, and Neil Hopcraft
ALB CREW: Dave Lamdin (Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), James Albrey, Craig Sergeant, Kristina Dolan, and Ian Ford (trainee).