HM Coastguard received an emergency call at 6am, from a fishing vessel, three miles off the coast at Seaford. 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 was 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. Three people were initially reported missing but the Coastguard confirmed, at 10.30am, that one man was recovered from the water by the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat, found clinging to a lifebuoy. He was transferred to hospital. Nearly four hours later, the other two people remain missing. Follow live updates here. These pictures show the large-scale emergency response:
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A large-scale rescue mission was launched after a fishing boat sunk near Newhaven. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
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A large-scale rescue mission was launched after a fishing boat sunk near Newhaven. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
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A large-scale rescue mission was launched after a fishing boat sunk near Newhaven. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
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A large-scale rescue mission was launched after a fishing boat sunk near Newhaven. Photo: Eddie Mitchell