MAN MISSING OFF BRIGHTON BEACH


A search has been ongoing all afternoon for a man who was reported to be in the water to the west of the groyne near Black Rock Station, Brighton.

Solent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call from a member of the public at just before 2.45pm today. The caller reported hearing a person in the water shouting for help. The RNLI lifeboat was sent immediately to the scene, however on arrival the person had disappeared under the water.

The Coastguard Rescue helicopter based at Lee on Solent joined the search with the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Newhaven and Shoreham and staff from the Brighton Beach Office, South Central Ambulance and Sussex Police. Unfortunately the person was not found despite a detailed search of the area where they were last seen.

The search has now been scaled down because of darkness. The area will be monitored overnight and a further search made at first light in the morning.

Solent Coastguard Watch Manager David Williams said:

"The lifeboat and helicopter were on scene really quickly this afternoon and everyone involved did everything they could to find this person. There will be a watch on the area where he was last seen overnight but this is increasingly looking like a tragic accident.”

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