Body is found washed up on a beach today after massive search operation off Brighton Palace Pier when person was ‘swept into the sea’ during Storm Noa
- Search and rescue operation was launched after person was swept into sea
- Body was found on beach at Saltdean this morning, five miles from incident
Coastguards searching for a person swept out to sea at the height of Storm Noa have today found a body.
A search and rescue operation was launched yesterday afternoon after a person was reportedly swept into the sea in Brighton.
Police and coastguard received calls a person had been swept into the sea from the Doughnut Groyne close to the Brighton Palace Pier at around 3.50pm.
In dangerous conditions, all-weather lifeboats from Shoreham and Newhaven were launched to begin a search.
Two Coastguard helicopters joined the operation, taking off in high winds and battling treacherous weather as they searched the sea around the Albion Groyne and seafront.
Large waves crash into the seafront at Brighton Palace Pier in East Sussex yesterday
More than a dozen volunteers also took to the shoreline to hunt for anyone being swept ashore.
The search was called off last night but both lifeboats were out again this morning and resumed the search, following an organised search pattern.
A body was then found on the beach in the nearby town of Saltdean – around five miles from where the incident happened.
The body had been washed ashore close to the Saltdean beachfront cafe and several police and Coastguard vehicles were at the scene.
There was also a liveried Sussex Police car with a Safeguarding Children Partnership marking.
A coastguard helicopter scours the rough sea off the Brighton coast yesterday
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘Sadly a body was found on the beach at Saltdean at about 8.15am.
‘An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing and further updates will be provided in due course.’
Before the body was found, rescuers said they were facing an easier operation this morning due to a calm sea and clear, bright conditions.
A spokeswoman for the RNLI said today: ‘Newhaven’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat and her crew have been stood down from service after over 10 hours of searching for a person in the water in the area of the Brighton Palace Pier.
‘Our volunteers have worked tirelessly throughout this multi-agency response in the face of challenging weather conditions. But our thoughts remain with the loved ones of this person at this extremely difficult time.’
Reports came in of a person being swept out to sea near the famous Palace Pier yesterday
A Coastguard spokeswoman said: ‘Shortly after 4pm (on Wednesday), HM Coastguard received reports of a person in the water at Doughnut Groyne close to Brighton Pier.
‘An extensive search of the area took place throughout the evening until 9pm in challenging conditions.
‘The Newhaven, Littlehampton and Shoreham Coastguard rescue teams, alongside Shoreham and Newhaven RNLI all-weather lifeboats, Sussex Police and the Coastguard helicopters from Lee-On-Solent and Lydd were sent to assist.
‘Further searches have been conducted from 6am (on Thursday), in more favourable weather conditions. The search ended around 8am.’
Yesterday’s search happened as Storm Noa caused havoc across England and Wales, with 75mph gusts of wind leaving hundreds of properties without power, trees down and causing travel delays.
A search and rescue team is seen next to the Palace Pier yesterday evening in Brighton
It comes after a woman also died after being spotted in the water off Brighton beach on Tuesday.
Describing the incident on Tuesday, the police spokesman said: ‘Emergency services conducted a search off Brighton beach shortly after 4pm on Tuesday April 11.
‘Sadly, the body of a woman was found. Her next of kin have been informed. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for HM coroner.’
Elsewhere during yesterday’s storm, in Fareham, Hampshire, a woman was badly hurt when scaffolding fell on to a main shopping street.
And at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, customers on the Big One rollercoaster had to be escorted down after the ride was stopped because of the adverse weather.
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