January 25 2016.



Newhaven’s Severn Class lifeboat ‘RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland’ and her volunteer crew were launched on Saturday at 13:05 to search for a missing person.

A few minutes earlier, a Newhaven Coastguard team had been tasked after personal belongings were found close to the cliff edge at Seaford Head. Shortly afterwards the identity of the missing person was established by Sussex Police and a full search commenced.

Newhaven Lifeboat carried out a shoreline search whilst the Police helicopter assisted with an ariel search.

As the tide receded Coastguard teams searched the beach from Seaford to the River Cuckmere. In total 17 Coastguard Search & Rescue Officers from Newhaven, Birling Gap & Eastbourne, plus seven Police officers, conducted an extensive shore and cliff top search.

Newhaven lifeboat remained on scene and acted as the communication hub for all the searching HM Coastguard teams as direct communications between became difficult due to the undulating terrain.

Despite the comprehensive search, which lasted for over four and a half hours, the missing person was not found and the search was called off as darkness fell. This remains an ongoing incident.

Newhaven lifeboat returned to station at 18:00 and was again ready for service at 18:45.