Brighton RNLI Responds To Multiple Coastal Shouts Across City

(c) RNLI/Lottie Ikonen

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers from Brighton Lifeboat Station have responded to a busy series of call-outs in recent days, supporting emergency services along the city’s coastline.

On Tuesday 4 February at 12.47pm, the crew was tasked by HM Coastguard to Brighton Palace Pier following concerns for a person.

The lifeboat launched immediately and approached at a controlled speed to assist emergency services already on scene.

The casualty was recovered safely and, due to sea conditions near the beach, the decision was taken to return to the lifeboat station.

The person was assessed before being handed over to the ambulance service, with police support. The lifeboat was stood down at 1.52pm.

On Tuesday 28 January at 12.13pm, the crew launched to assist a motor vessel reported adrift around one nautical mile south-east of Brighton Marina, with four people on board.

When the lifeboat arrived, the vessel was no longer in the reported position.

Searches were carried out while HM Coastguard made further enquiries.

It was later confirmed the vessel had entered Brighton Marina safely, and the lifeboat returned to station at 12.56pm. No assistance was required.

Later that afternoon, at 2.49pm, the lifeboat was diverted from exercise after reports of a possible person in the water between Roedean Cliffs and Ovingdean.

The concern followed the discovery of a distressed dog on the beach with no owner located.

The lifeboat was tasked, but stood down shortly afterwards as the search was scaled back.

Coastguard Rescue Teams searched onshore, while Sussex Police made further enquiries.

No casualty was found and the crew returned to station, later being fully stood down.

More recently, on Wednesday 5 February at 10.56pm, the lifeboat launched after multiple reports of a red flare seen off the seafront near the i360 Viewing Tower.

The crew searched the area for over an hour, and a flare casing was later found on the beach by Coastguard teams.

No vessel or person in difficulty was located and the lifeboat was stood down.

The RNLI is reminding the public that flares should only be used in genuine emergencies where there is immediate danger to life.

Misuse can result in unnecessary launches and divert vital resources from real incidents.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Charlie Dannreuther said the volunteer crews are ready to respond at any time and treat every call-out as a genuine emergency until advised otherwise, with safety always their priority.

Anyone who sees someone in trouble at the coast should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.