People missing at sea after fishing boat sinks at Seaford

HM Coastguard received an emergency call at 6am this morning (Saturday, November 21), from a fishing vessel, three miles off the coast at Seaford.

Three people were initially reported missing but the Coastguard confirmed that one man was recovered from the water by the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat, found clinging to a lifebuoy. He has been transferred to hospital.

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agencysaid: "The search continues for the two missing crew members after the fishing vessel JOANNA C sank this morning off Newhaven.

"HM Coastguard immediately sent the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lydd, supported by the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Lee On Solent and RNLI all weather lifeboats from both Newhaven and Eastbourne.

"Birling Gap Coastguard Rescue Team has been sent to check for sightings from the shore.

"Other fishing vessels in the area responded to the Coastguard radio broadcasts and have been helping with the search."

The fishing vessel JOANNA C is a 45 foot scalloping vessel, registered in Brixham, and three people were on board 'at the time of the sinking'.

Piers Stanbury, HM Coastguard Controller and the National Maritime Operations Centre said: "Thankfully one of the three people on board at the time of sinking has been pulled out of the water and brought to shore by the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat but the intensive air and sea search for the two missing crew continues.

"Debris has been located close to location of the EPIRB alert location but no life raft has been found as yet."

Another fishing vessel in the area responded to the Coastguard radio broadcasts and is helping with the search. The Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Solent has also joined the air search.

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