Lifeboat crews respond to report of person clinging to buoy

On Saturday evening, lifeboats from Shoreham and Brighton were launched in response to a report of a paddle boarder clinging to a buoy in the water by the West Pier in Brighton. According to Shoreham Lifeboat, there was also an unconfirmed report of another person in the water who had gone to the aid of the paddleboarder.

The all-weather and inshore lifeboats from Shoreham, along with the Brighton lifeboat, carried out an extensive search between the West and Palace piers and around each pier. However, nothing untoward was found and the lifeboat crews were eventually stood down.

The call was made with good intent, according to Shoreham Lifeboat. In a statement, they said: “Our all weather and inshore lifeboats were called to a report of a paddle boarder clinging to a buoy in the water by the West Pier, Brighton, on Saturday evening.”

Brighton Lifeboat also confirmed the launch on their social media, stating: “We launched last night to a report of a paddleboarder clinging to a buoy in the sea by the West Pier in #Brighton. Along with @SLifeboatRNLI we carried out an extensive search. Nothing untoward was found and the lifeboat crews were stood down.”