Sea safety warning

SEAFARERS and swimmers have been warned to be safety conscious after it was revealed the Newhaven Lifeboat responded to 47 emergency calls in the past year.

Among those rescued was a man in a badly equipped yacht who fired distress signals in a full gale. Newhaven Coxswain Ian Johns received special thanks from the RNLI after the stricken boat was brought safely ashore.

The Newhaven crew also rescued a woman who was trapped with a broken arm up the mast of a yacht and plucked a jetskier with a broken back from the sea after he was catapulted over the handlebars of his machine.

Reporting to the Newhaven Lifeboat annual meeting at the Hillcrest Centre, on Saturday, station secretary Mike Tubb praised the crew. He said: 'The skills of the two paramedics we are fortunate to have on the crew, and the first aid knowledge of the other crew members, have greatly assisted in saving the lives of people rescued by the lifeboat.'

Cox Ian Johns urged people using the sea and beaches to be safety conscious this summer as carelessness could cost lives.

He said: 'We will respond when anyone is in danger but that can very often be of their own making. It could happen that while we are going to help someone who has simply been careless someone else is in real trouble. The lifeboat can only be in one place at a time.'

It was also revealed that residents, businesses and organisations in the district had raised 39,168 towards the cost of keeping the boat at instant readiness.

The Lifeboat annual fete, due to be held this year on July 13, at the Fort Road football ground, raised more than 4,000. Lewes bonfire societies donated 800.

A cheque for 500 was presented to the Lifeboat by Newhaven Deep Sea Anglers and tea cosies hand made by a helper brought in 24 from a supporter in America.