VIDEO: Large search and rescue in Littlehampton a ‘false alarm’

LIFEBOAT and coastguard teams from Littlehampton were scrambled on Friday evening (February 27) following reports that a person was in the River Arun.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Mar 2015, 11:00 BST
One of the coastguards using a torch to search the river PHOTO: Eddie MitchellOne of the coastguards using a torch to search the river PHOTO: Eddie Mitchell
One of the coastguards using a torch to search the river PHOTO: Eddie Mitchell

The call came from police just before 9pm.

Both Littlehampton’s RNLI’s lifeboats Atlantic 75 Blue Peter 1 and D Class Ray of Hope were launched to join the effort.

A police helicopter was also called to assist in the hunt but was later stood down.

One of the coastguards using a torch to search the river PHOTO: Eddie MitchellOne of the coastguards using a torch to search the river PHOTO: Eddie Mitchell
One of the coastguards using a torch to search the river PHOTO: Eddie Mitchell
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The coastguards’ helicopter joined the operation after a further report that someone had been spotted further down the river, towards the sea, with lifeboat crews rushing out to the coast to check.

However, none of the search and rescue teams could find anyone and were forced to call off the operation.

Peter Knight, deputy launching authority, said: “Although it turned out to be a false alarm with good intent, it was also a great display of joint working between the Littlehampton coastguard search teams on the ground, coastguard and police helicopter crews and the RNLI volunteer crews.”

Related topics:RNLI