RNLI volunteers rescue two mariners from sunken vessel at entrance to Littlehampton Harbour
Two mariners were rescued from a sunken vessel by Littlehampton RNLI volunteers on Saturday, September 12.
The RNLI said the incident happened in the evening, adding that the RNLI crew were tasked by HM Coastguard to the 15-foot vessel shortly after 7.30pm.
The RNLI said the vessel was ‘about 100 metres south of the harbour entrance’.
An RNLI spokesperson said: “The station’s D-Class lifeboat Spirit of Fidelity was launched and the crew headed straight to the vessel, which had been located by two flares.
“When the crew got to the stricken cuddy, the two male casualties were standing in waist-deep water. Cold but well, they were transferred safely to the lifeboat. The crew took them back to the visitor moorings in Littlehampton Harbour, where they were met by waiting Coastguards and shore crew, who took them to the lifeboat station to warm up.”
Chris King, Littlehampton RNLI Launch Authority, left a wedding reception to coordinate the incident response. He said: “At Littlehampton RNLI, we’re all volunteers who train hard in all weathers, 24/7. When the pager sounds, we drop everything to save anyone in distress.
“The River Arun is one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the UK, but the water can become extremely shallow at low tide, especially a low spring tide like yesterday evening. We’re all relieved that the casualties were well despite their ordeal.”