On Thursday, 16 January, Newhaven RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew sprang into action at 1:05 pm after three students were cut off by the rising tide near Flagstaff Point, Cuckmere Haven.
The stranded students were first spotted by surfers, who moved them to a safer spot and called for help. Newhaven RNLI swiftly launched their inshore lifeboat Bill Hall and navigated shallow waters to reach them, providing lifejackets before bringing them back to the lifeboat station.
One of the rescued students, Prashik Sonawane, described the terrifying ordeal:
“The water was coming in fast, and there was no way back. We couldn’t swim, our phones were dead, and we felt like we were going to die. Seeing the lifeboat coming towards us was such a relief. The crew were so friendly and took great care of us.”
Once safely ashore, the casualties received further care from paramedics.
The rescue also marked key milestones for the Newhaven RNLI team: it was Steve Hopson’s first call-out as lifeboat crew, Fi McColgan’s first as Launch Authority, and the station’s first rescue of 2025.
Steve Hopson reflected on his first mission:
“When the pager went off, the adrenaline kicked in. It was a relief to see the students were okay, though they were cold and shaken. We reassured them and made sure they were comfortable.”
RNLI Water Safety Officer Jane Masey urged beachgoers to always check tide times and carry a means of calling for help.
If you or someone else is in danger on the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
