Dramatic rescue saves swimmers from being swept out to sea at Littlehampton

The pensioner, from Arundel, and the 13-year-old, visiting from the United States, got into difficulties as they swam in the sea near the mouth of the River Arun at Littlehampton on Monday afternoon.

Force 7 south-westerly winds blew the girl towards the West Works pier, and when the elderly man went to help her, he was also swept away from the beach towards the timber structure.

Both managed to clamber onto the West Works, and within minutes both Littlehampton inshore lifeboats and the Solent Coastguard rescue helicopter were on the scene, after the alarm was raised by a 999 call shortly before 3pm.

Deeply distressed

The RNLI crews found the girl, deeply distressed, clinging to the wooden pier above the water. The man was on the shingle, suffering from cuts from barnacles and rocks at the base of the pier.

There was too little water to take a lifeboat alongside the casualties, so crewmen Rob Rollins, Gavin Simmons and Lee Cullen climbed through the West Works from the eastern side and rescued the pensioner, carrying him out of the surf up to the beach.

The helicopter winched the teenager from the pier and then landed on the beach to pick up the man, before flying them both to Worthing Hospital.

Littlehampton RNLI launching authority Jim Petty said after the emergency: "Even though the shout (call-out) was over and done with quickly and successfully, with the awful weather conditions, my goodness, it could have ended differently."

'In serious danger'

Solent Coastguard's helicopter was diverted from another incident off Southsea in which a yacht was holed by a submarine barrier and was sinking. The rescue service's watch manager Matt West said the rapid response of the Portsmouth lifeboat to that emergency meant the helicopter could be sent immediately to the two swimmers in danger of being swept out to sea at Littlehampton.

"The quick response of the (Portsmouth) lifeboat allowed the Coastguard helicopter to be diverted to the young girl and elderly gentleman who, in rough seas and increasingly strong winds, were in serious danger.

"We would never advise against a late afternoon swim in pleasant weather, but always stay within the constraints of both your ability and the weather."

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