Reports of vulnerable adult in sea at Camber sparks search operation

Reports of a vulnerable adult in the sea at Camber Sands sparked a search operation yesterday (Sunday, November 18).
The Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat Hello Herbie II returns to the station. Photo by Martin Bruce SUS-181119-173715001The Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat Hello Herbie II returns to the station. Photo by Martin Bruce SUS-181119-173715001
The Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat Hello Herbie II returns to the station. Photo by Martin Bruce SUS-181119-173715001

Just hours after attending a service in the village church to commemorate the Mary Stanford crew lost in 1928, today’s Rye Harbour RNLI volunteers set out from the station into the darkness.

The inshore lifeboat Hello Herbie II launched at 6.30pm on Sunday evening, responding to HM Coastguard reports of a vulnerable adult possibly in the sea off Camber Sands.

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Volunteer Helm Trevor Bryant, who retires from that position after 33 years of service later this week, initiated a search in which the lifeboat was joined by Coastguard helicopter Rescue 163 from Lydd and members of the Rye Bay Coastguard team.

The Rye Harbour RNLI's launch tractor is washed down in readiness for the next 'shout'. Photo by Martin Bruce. SUS-181119-173704001The Rye Harbour RNLI's launch tractor is washed down in readiness for the next 'shout'. Photo by Martin Bruce. SUS-181119-173704001
The Rye Harbour RNLI's launch tractor is washed down in readiness for the next 'shout'. Photo by Martin Bruce. SUS-181119-173704001

Visibility was good and the weather calm but the low sea temperature made a swift recovery essential.

After some 30 minutes of searching it was reported that the potential casualty had been found in the Central Car Park at Camber, where a paramedic assisted him.

The lifeboat returned to station at 7.10pm.

“This first shout in the darker, colder conditions of winter emphasised the need for thorough training and the correct equipment if we are to save lives at sea,” said Tony Edwards, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour. “We were glad to learn in this case that the individual concerned was found before he had entered the water.”

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