Littlehampton's lifeboat crew rescue kitesurfer in difficulty

Sunday, 30 January 2022 12:44

By RNHJourno

The RNLI successfully rescued the man after one of his feet got tangled in his kite lines.

A kitesurfer who got into difficulty near Worthing pier on Friday evening has been successfully rescued by the volunteer crew of Littlehampton RNLI.

The crew launched at 5.07pm at the request of HM Coastgaurd, after multiple emergency calls from concerned members of the public about a kitesurfer who was struggling to get back on their board.

When the crew arrived at the scene, they spotted the man 20 metres from the shore. He had one foot on the sea floor, but his other foot was tangled in his kite lines.

Two crew members entered the water to help him, and handed him over to emergency services who were waiting on shore.

There had been reports of a second person entering the water to help the kitesurfer, but this person had returned to shore on their own.

Simon Tann, Deputy Launching Authority at Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station, said:

"Kitesurfing is an exhilarating watersport and very popular in the local area. However, it is important to "e aware that the sea can be incredibly unpredictable. There are some simple checks for safe kitesurfing, including checking your equipment before venturing onto the water, taking with you a means of calling or signalling for help, and never riding out further than you can swim back."

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