October 21 2011.


Coastguards launched Newhaven's RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland Severn Class Lifeboat at approximately 18:00 on 16th October to assist a small angling vessel and then again paged the crew at 05:55 the following morning to flashing lights reported off Seaford Head.

The first service was to a small angling vessel which had broken down half a mile south of Seaford Head. The two occupants were found to be ok, their anchor was raised and a tow line was established back to Newhaven.

The following morning the crew were paged to flashing strobe lights off Splash Point at Seaford, which had been reported by a passing trawler. Coastguards believed the light to be a man overboard marker beacon.

The Lifeboat rushed to the position to find the distress light was attached to a dan buoy (fishing gear). At the request of the Coastguard to avoid further false alarms, the strobe was removed and a polite note was left so the owner could collect the light from the lifeboat station.

Coastguards also launched Newhaven's RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland Severn Class Lifeboat at approximately 14:30 yesterday to a report of a suspected body spotted at the base of the cliffs near Seaford Head by a member of the public.

Once on scene the lifeboat launched its Y boat (small inflatable). Two crew members then scanned the area several times. Nothing was found except some discarded fishing pot markers. The lifeboat then returned to station.


To follow Newhaven Lifeboat services visit www.newhavenlifeboat.co.uk