TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT FRIARS BAY


Three people have been taken to hospital this morning after a man fell into the water whilst out for a walk on a sea wall at Friars Bay, Peacehaven.

Solent Coastguard received a ‘999’ call from a construction worker, working on the Longsea Outfall pipeline at Peacehaven at , he stated there was a man in the water.

Coastguard Rescue officers from Newhaven were sent to the scene as well as scrambling the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Lee-on the-Solent and requesting the launch of the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat to the scene.  Sussex Ambulance was also in attendance.

Officers at Solent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said:

"We understand that a man fell into the water whilst out for a walk with a member of his family.  A group of construction workers went to the man’s assistance by throwing life rings into the water and due to a large surge the man lost hold of the life ring, one of the construction workers entered the water to recover the man and pull him back to the groyne; the waves then broke again on them and the man was lost from the grasp of the construction worker.  The man was found shortly afterwards and taken by Rescue helicopter to Eastbourne Hospital. The construction worker was seen by paramedics on the shore and then taken to Brighton Hospital by ambulance suffering from hypothermia and head injuries.  The family member also has been taken to Brighton hospital suffering from hypothermia.

We understand from the Sussex Police that the man that fell into the water has since been declared dead; our sympathy goes out to the family and friends at this tragic time.” 



For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Duty Press Officer
Office hours: 023 8032 9401
Mobile: 07764 624 505

Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on the Web at www.mcga.gov.uk

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