Near miss for 16-footer

Sergeant Richard Kennedy of the Police Maritime Unit says there were just two incidents in Eastbourne waters recently.

In one a jet skier sucked up some rope and managed to beach themselves on an island, from where the maritime unit towed them to the mainland.

More seriously, around midday on 22 January, Police received a report that a boat had capsized and several people were in the water.

The 16-foot boat, launched from Lowry Bay with five on board, was heading to the south coast to dive and fish.

“Waves began hitting the stern and splashing inside the boat on its way out. While the skipper slowed down and made the decision to return to Lowry Bay, the nose of the boat turned towards shore and waves overturned it,” Sgt Kennedy says.