'Lucky escape' for man who came off jet ski at 40mph near West Pier: Brighton RNLI issue safety warning after rescue

The Brighton lifeboat crew has now issued a safety warning after the rescue.

A Brighton RNLI spokesperson said the incident happened while the volunteer crew were on a training exercise.

They said: “They spotted a jet ski heading south with no-one on it.

“The crew cut the engine after confirming no one was onboard and set out to find the driver.

“They soon found a conscious male, wearing a buoyancy aid.

“He had come off the jet ski at 40mph.”

The RNLI said the man was taken back to the Lifeboat Station in Brighton Marina and assessed.

He was also given safety advice, they said, which included always wearing a kill cord and having a means of calling for help.

The kill cord is designed to ‘kill’ a boat engine in case the driver goes overboard.

Lifeboat operations manager Roger Cohen MBE said the man had a ‘lucky escape with some minor bruising’.

Roger said: “This is exactly what we train for and I’m proud of the team recognising that there was something amiss with the jet ski and quickly finding the rider.

“This incident highlights the importance of a fully operational kill cord being on board a watercraft and used correctly.

“The RNLI recommend that before any watercrafts that are equipped with a kill cord are taken to sea, the operator should deliberately operate the kill cord to confirm it is operating correctly.”

The RNLI’s safety messages when using a personal watercraft:

Always wear a flotation device.

Stay with your craft in an emergency so you can stay afloat and be easy to locate.

Make sure you are wearing suitable clothing for the conditions.

Always carry a means of calling for help on your person and make it easy to reach.

Develop your skills by contacting your national governing body, club or watersports activity centre.

Tell someone else where you are going and when you expect to be back. This person can call 999 or 112 if you are overdue.

Always check the forecast and tide times.

Make sure you have enough fuel.

Check your equipment and make sure the drainage plug is in place.