Eastbourne RNLI called out to locate vehicle with 'total power failure'
The RNLI in Eastbourne were called out in the early hours of Friday, October 31 to rescue a vehicle that lost power.
A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “Eastbourne RNLI’s Trent Class All-Weather Lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard on Friday October 31 at 00:57hrs, requested to locate a sailing vessel with total power failure and no navigation lights working. The volunteer lifeboat crew located the vessel approximately 5 miles SE of Beachy Head.
“The Coxswain carried out a risk assessment and determined that, given the vessel was drifting without any lights and was almost invisible to other vessels and had no means of communication other than a mobile phone, the safest course of action was to tow the vessel back to Sovereign Harbour.
“The lifeboat and casualty vessel arrived back at Sovereign Harbour just before 4am. The crew on board the sailing vessel were experienced sailors and very grateful for the help. Following the return to station, the crew made the lifeboat ready for service again, ready to respond to the next call for help. Our volunteer crew remain on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to the generosity of our supporters.”