HM Coastguard- Bexhill

20/06/2026

19/06/2026

⚠️ Spot someone in trouble in the water?
📞 Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard immediately
Also, before you visit:
-Check tide times
-Check weather forecasts
Being prepared helps keep everyone safe.

19/06/2026

It may be tempting to cool off in or near the water during a heatwave, but please take extra care when doing so ☀️

Swim at a lifeguarded beach where possible 🏖️

Take notice of the beach flags and safety signs 🚩

Stay within your limits when in the water 🌊

Never enter the water after drinking alcohol ❌

If you get into trouble, Float to Live 🛟

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

17/06/2026

Bexhill Coastguard Rescue Team – Who We Are & What We Do

Thank you for taking a few minutes to read this.

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Coastguard Rescue Teams provide a lifesaving search and rescue service around the UK’s coastline.

Our small Bexhill team is currently made up of just 5 active Coastguard Rescue Officers (2 in full time work and 3 retired) operating from the old lookout at Galley Hill. We’re called out over the year, on average, just over 9 times a month but that can easily double during the spring and summer months.

We’re all volunteers. But it’s not volunteering in the casual sense. We choose to be called away at any time of day or night, from our families, our jobs, our meals, our sleep, and our own lives. Because someone else is facing the worst moment of theirs.

Our communities look to us on their darkest days. So we go…

We’re not a charity, we’re a government-funded emergency service forming part of the UK's national Search and Rescue (SAR) capability. We’re a Category 1 blue light responder, alongside other key emergency services - Fire, Ambulance and Police.

There is no on-call allowance nor any retainer but we are, for just a few weeks more, able to claim a small remuneration for incidents attended and for some training courses, to offset the personal cost of attending.

Working alongside other SAR agencies we respond to a wide range of incidents, including:

• Mental health crises
• Water rescues
• Cliff and rope rescues
• Casualty care
• Lost or missing person searches
• Flood response
• Ordnance and pyrotechnic incidents
• And, sadly, body recovery

So, that’s us and that, in a nutshell is what we do. We’ll be recruiting shortly, so please get in touch here via Messenger if you’re interested in joining us.

Thank you.
Bexhill Coastguard Rescue Team.

If you see someone in difficulty on the coast, or think someone is in danger at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

15/06/2026

Overdue kayakers

At 16:17 today, we were tasked following a report from a concerned friend that two kayakers were overdue from a trip in the Fairlight area.

We made a rendezvous with HM Coastguard - Hastings and Sussex Police at Rock-a-Nore car park, while Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat was also tasked to assist.

Shortly after our arrival, the kayakers were sighted paddling from Fairlight towards Rock-a-Nore, where they came ashore safe and well, albeit later than expected.

This incident had a positive outcome and thanks go to the friend for raising the alarm when the kayakers failed to return as planned. Knowing where someone is going and when they expect to be back can make all the difference if something goes wrong.

If you’re planning a kayaking trip, please remember:

🛶 Tell someone where you’re going and what time you expect to return.
🛶 Check the weather forecast, sea conditions and tide times before setting off.
🛶 Wear a suitable buoyancy aid or lifejacket.
🛶 Carry a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and/or a waterproof VHF radio.
🛶 Take food, water and appropriate clothing for the conditions.
🛶 Paddle with others where possible and stay within your capabilities.
🛶 Get appropriate training and practise self-rescue techniques.
🛶 Consider carrying a tracking device when venturing further offshore or into remote areas. (rnli.org)

The RNLI also provides a free Sea Kayaking Safety Pack packed with practical advice and goodies to help you prepare for your next trip.

If you see someone in difficulty at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

15/06/2026

14/06/2026

Second Shout of the Weekend

At 13:04 today, Bexhill Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked to Galley Hill Beach following concerns for a small vessel reported around 100 metres offshore.

While deploying the Rescue Vehicle, team members used binoculars to check a number of small vessels in the area and initially found nothing of concern. We then made contact with the informant, who pointed out the vessel in question. Further observations confirmed it was one we had already assessed, and no concerns were identified.

The incident was recorded as a false alarm with good intent.

We thanked the informant for raising their concerns.

As always, if you see something that doesn’t look right along our coastline, please don’t hesitate to call and let us check it out. We’d always rather investigate and find everything is safe than miss someone who genuinely needs help.

📞 In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

14/06/2026

We are delighted to share that our former Station Officer, Richard Rowsell, has been awarded an MBE in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for services to Maritime Safety.

Richard has dedicated an incredible 56 years of voluntary service to HM Coastguard, including more than 30 years leading Bexhill Coastguard Rescue Team. During that time, he’s attended thousands of incidents, ranging from searches for missing persons and maritime emergencies to cliff, mud and water rescues.

Richard’s service has been recognised many times over the years, including a Commendation for Meritorious Service, HM Coastguard Long Service Medals for 20, 40 and 50 years’ service, and being part of the team awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Beyond Coastguard duties, Richard has spent decades supporting volunteers through the Coastguard Association, providing emergency communications with RAYNET, and promoting safety at sea through his long-standing work with Bexhill Sailing Club.

Pictured here at a previous medal award and in action in some recent training sessions, Richard’s MBE is a fitting recognition of a lifetime of service to his community and the wider maritime sector. On behalf of everyone at Bexhill Coastguard Rescue Team, congratulations Richard, and thank you for your remarkable dedication. 👏🚨🌊