June 8 2015.


Newhaven’s Severn Class lifeboat ‘RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland’ and her volunteer crew were yesterday tasked at 12:10, whilst out on exercise, to a 27ft motor cruiser which was taking on water south of the East Pier at Newhaven.

The lifeboat proceeded at speed to the stricken vessel which had four persons on board. The lifeboat salvage pump was readied should it have been necessary to pump the vessel out. A local fishing boat and Seaford lifeguards stood by the vessel until the lifeboat arrived.

A lifeboat crew member was transferred onto the casualty vessel to assess the ingress of water. It was soon established that without the motor running there appeared to be little ingress of water, so the decision was made to tow the vessel into Newhaven harbour.

A tow line was established and the stricken vessel was safely towed into Newhaven and positioned close to the marina where it started its engine to maneuverer the short distance alongside the pontoon next to the slipway.

The lifeboat then returned to station at 12:50 and was ready for service shortly afterwards.


The lifeboat was also launched on the 4th of June at 2:50pm to reports of a person in the water off Crowlink, which is in the middle of the Seven Sisters cliffs.

The lifeboat proceeded at speed to the position given. Two crew were readied with dry suits and the inflatable Y boat was prepared for launch.

Once in the area, Coastguard rescue helicopter R104 also arrived at the scene and both searched the area where a member of the public had seen someone in the water, possibly unconscious.

After a short search, Coastguard rescue helicopter R104 located the casualty, who was by this time on the shoreline. The beach was adequate for the helicopter to land where its paramedic confirmed the casualty was deceased.

Once the deceased casualty was recovered by helicopter R104, Newhaven lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station at 16:45.