Eastbourne lifeboat launched to runaway fishing boat

Eastbourne’s Inshore Lifeboat was launched early this morning (January 21) to recover a fishing boat SUS-200121-151204001

According to an Eastbourne RNLI spokesman, shortly after 6am this morning (Tuesday) a local fisherman was attempting to launch his 18ft boat from the beach at Fisherman’s Green when he had a “bizarre accident”.

The spokesman said the man lost contact with the vessel at a crucial moment and, with the engine running, the boat slipped out to sea.

He said, “Despite a desperate attempt to catch the vessel it was soon out of reach, so the fisherman had no alternative but to seek assistance from HM Coastguard.

“The volunteer inshore lifeboat crew were requested to launch and following a brief search recovered the vessel heading towards Sovereign Harbour.

“Two crewmen were put aboard and returned the boat to a cold, wet and slightly embarrassed owner on the beach from whence it had set out.”

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