Person saved from the sea by RNLI near Eastbourne

The Eastbourne RNLI volunteer crew successfully saved a person from a "life-threatening situation" in the water off Holywell, near Eastbourne, on Monday, 8 June 2026.

The Eastbourne RNLI volunteer crew successfully saved a person from a "life-threatening situation" in the water off Holywell, near Eastbourne, on Monday, 8 June 2026. [1]

Incident Details

• The Callout: Solent Coastguard requested an immediate launch at 1:03 pm following reports of an individual in serious distress in the water. 
• The Rescue: The Eastbourne RNLI deployed their D-Class inshore lifeboat, The Peter Dixon. Operating in choppy sea conditions, they were guided by Coastguard Rescue Officers on the shore to the casualty, who had drifted approximately half a mile out to sea. 
• The Recovery: An RNLI crew member entered the water to stabilise the individual and prevent them from taking on any more water. The casualty was safely recovered onto the lifeboat, brought back to Holywell Beach, and transferred to the hospital via an awaiting ambulance. 

Tragic Local Event Over the Same Weekend

Local rescue teams were also involved in a separate, tragic incident just the day before. On Sunday, 7 June 2026, a major multi-agency search was launched at 5:20 pm off the coast west of Eastbourne. While the crew of The Peter Dixon successfully located and recovered the casualty from the water, a 47-year-old man from Brighton was sadly pronounced deceased despite immediate lifesaving care. Emergency services confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.