FEATURE: VIP visitor 'impressed' with the skills of Eastbourne's Coastguard Rescue Team

The High Sheriff of East Sussex has been seeing at firsthand how Eastbourne Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) carries out cliff rescues.

Juliet Smith was at Eastbourne CRT’s cliff rescue training session to see the skills that the team is relied upon for along the Sussex coastline.

It specialises in rescue and recovery operations requiring rope access and, alongside the team from Birling Gap, are frequently sent to Beachy Head. 

The training session focused on rapid kit set-up and the deployment of a rope rescue technician over the cliff at Holywell, outside Eastbourne.

An air of quiet efficiency pervaded as the Coastguard’s equipment was assembled and the vital safety checks were carried out. No team members ventured near the cliff edge unless they were wearing helmets and harnesses secured by their ropes back to holdfasts driven into the chalk.

High Sheriff Juliet Smith said “I am extremely impressed with the capabilities that the Coastguard Rescue Service deliver across the whole Sussex coastline. 

It’s very reassuring that these volunteers are always available to respond to emergencies.

It's also heartening to learn how well the Coastguard operates hand in hand with the RNLI and with the other blue-light services.

The community owes you a real debt of gratitude.”

Nick Jury, the Senior Coastal Operations Officer for East Sussex, said: “We are delighted to host the High Sheriff at Eastbourne Coastguard Rescue Team. I know that the volunteers get a tremendous boost to be recognised for all that they achieve, sometimes in the most demanding of circumstances.”

Chris Enright, Divisional Commander, said “The Coastguard Rescue Service is an example of regular folk from coastal communities who together, achieve extraordinary outcomes to search and to rescue people who get into difficulties. 

Furthermore, they are successfully rising to varied challenges working with other responders under the auspices of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles. 

A recent example being our humanitarian contribution to Operation Stack on the M20 motorway.”

The men and women of Eastbourne CRT are all volunteers who are on-call 24-7 to respond to coastal emergencies. Each of the team has acquired and maintains skills in rope rescue techniques, water rescue, land search, communications, and first aid.


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