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Newhaven Coastguard, Euro Business Park, New Road, Newhaven (2026)

01/10/2026

🚨 August & September Round-Up 🚨

From Eastbourne to Shoreham, with Newhaven and Brighton in between… it’s been a very busy couple of months for the team!

Since our last update, we've responded to 60 taskings across August and September, taking us right across our patch and, on occasion, well beyond it. That's 249 shouts already in 2026!

We kicked off August by providing safety cover for Brighton Pride, and what a weekend it was! The team had a fantastic time supporting the event and fully embraced the spirit of Pride. It was brilliant to see the community come together, and we're always proud to play our part in keeping people safe while they enjoy themselves.

After that, it was back to business, with the usual Coastguard mixture of incidents – although there's really no such thing as a 'usual' tasking!

We've carried out casualty evacuations from vessels and difficult locations, including an extraction from a dredger, assisted casualties with suspected broken bones, dealt with intoxicated people in the water and responded to reports of children entering the sea in choppy conditions. There were even two visits to the same Pilot Whale that had been washed ashore.

We've searched for missing people, responded to reports of kayaks drifting offshore and helped people who have found themselves in difficulty on the water. We've also been called to a boat fire at Brighton Marina, reports of possible ordnance and travelled well beyond our normal operating area – including as far as the other side of Shoreham in one direction and the other extremity of our patch towards Eastbourne in the other.

And, of course, it's not all about responding to incidents.

We helped at the Newhaven RNLI open day and training has continued throughout the two months, including cliff rescue training and medical re-evaluations for the whole team, making sure our skills remain current and we're ready to respond safely and effectively when we're needed.

Somewhere amongst all of this, we even managed to experience an eclipse! 🌑

Rounding off September, we were back in Newhaven helping people whose vessel had become stuck in the mud to get safely back to shore.

So, 60 taskings, hundreds of hours of volunteering, plenty of training and a whole lot of miles covered. From Eastbourne to Shoreham, Brighton to Newhaven, it's certainly been a busy couple of months for Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team.

A huge thank you, as always, to our fellow Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI crews, emergency service colleagues and all the other agencies and organisations we work alongside. And most importantly, thank you to our volunteers and their families for the time, commitment and support they continue to give.

Coastal emergency? Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. 🌊

01/10/2026

Our thoughts are with our colleagues at RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station following the incredibly sad news of the loss of one of their crew members.

From one Search and Rescue family to another, we send our deepest condolences to their family, friends and fellow crew members at this incredibly difficult time.

We know only too well the strength of the bonds that exist within SAR teams, and the loss of one of our own is felt by everyone across the service.

From all of us at Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team, our thoughts are with you. ❤️

07/08/2026

A sad day as we say farewell to our former Deputy Station Officer "Mick Thorpe", pictured 2nd from the left.

A true kind and dedicated team member who will be fondly remembered. Our Thoughts are with Sophy and her family at this sad time.

All our best wishes and love from Trevor and the Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team.

03/08/2026

**🚨 July Monthly Round-Up 🚨**

If June was busy, July certainly raised the bar.

The team responded to **50 taskings** during the month – our busiest July on record. It was another reminder that no two days in Coastguard Rescue Team life are ever the same.

Our volunteers were called to a huge variety of incidents across the Sussex coast. These included reports of people in the water, missing person searches, cliff rescues, people cut off by the tide, paddleboarders, kayakers and inflatable lilos being blown offshore, assisting vessels in difficulty, and even helping make an area safe after a sinkhole was discovered. Many reports of people in the water thankfully turned out to be false alarms with good intent, but we'd always rather be called and find someone safe than not called at all.

Away from our emergency callouts, we were also proud to provide safety cover during both weekends of the **On The Beach** festival in Brighton. The opening weekend featured four incredible days of live music, including Brighton's very own **Fatboy Slim**. Our team unexpectedly found themselves becoming social media stars after a few dance moves caught the attention of festival-goers online! Norman Cook also showed his appreciation for the work of Coastguard volunteers by inviting some of the team on stage to experience what it's like performing in front of more than 10,000 people – a memorable moment that won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Despite the busy operational tempo, training never stops. Throughout July the team continued to develop and refresh essential skills, including water rescue training to ensure we're always ready to respond safely and effectively when the call comes. We also managed to enjoy a well-earned team social evening together – an opportunity to strengthen the friendships and teamwork that are so important on incidents. A huge thank you goes to our neighbouring Coastguard Rescue Teams for providing flank cover while we were off duty. Your support is greatly appreciated and is another great example of the teamwork that keeps the Coastguard service operating 24/7.

With the hot weather continuing and many more people heading to the coast, we'd like to remind everyone to enjoy the beach safely. Always check the tide times before setting out, stay well away from cliff edges and bases, and leave inflatable lilos and pool toys at home. They may seem harmless, but they can be blown offshore in seconds, leaving you in serious danger.

If you see someone in difficulty on the coast, in the sea, or on the shoreline, **dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard**.

As always, a huge thank you goes to our volunteers, their families, and the other emergency services and partner agencies we work alongside. We hope August is a little quieter... but we're always ready to respond if needed.

16/07/2026

🎶☀️ Festival season has arrived on Brighton seafront! ☀️🎶

If you're heading to On The Beach over the coming weekends, we hope you have an amazing time enjoying the music, the atmosphere and everything Brighton has to offer.

While you're making memories, don't forget one thing... 🌊 Respect the Water.

The sea can be unpredictable, even on the warmest summer days.

✅ Don't enter the water if you've been drinking alcohol or taken drugs.
✅ Stay well away from the sea in bad weather or rough conditions.
✅ Follow advice from the RNLI Lifeguards and Brighton Beach Patrol.
✅ If you spot someone in difficulty, don't enter the water yourself. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard straight away.

Look after your mates, know your limits, and let's make sure everyone gets home safely after an incredible weekend.

See you at the seaside... hopefully just enjoying the music! 🎵🌊

01/07/2026

Call Outs 107 – 139 | June 2026

June saw Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team respond to 33 incidents, with the first call out on 2 June and the last on 30 June. It was another busy month as we moved further into the summer season.

The month brought everything from gale-force winds to prolonged hot weather around the Summer Solstice, with operational demand reflecting the changing conditions along our coastline.

The team responded to a wide range of incidents, including kitesurfers and paddleboarders in difficulty, inflatables blown offshore, people cut off by the tide, reports of missing children and other weather-related incidents as increasing numbers of people visited the coast. There was also a Porpoise that had washed up locally too, where we send the details to the Natural History Museum who maintain a log.

Preventing incidents is just as important as responding to them. During June, team members visited a local school to deliver coastal safety advice ahead of the Summer holidays, helping young people understand the risks associated with the sea and how to stay safe while enjoying our beaches.

June also included Volunteers' Week, a national celebration recognising the contribution made by volunteers across the UK. As a volunteer Coastguard Rescue Team, every incident attended represents team members leaving work, family time or other commitments to respond when the pager sounds. Throughout the recent spell of warm weather, many of our volunteers swapped days in the sunshine with their own families for time serving alongside their Coastguard family, ensuring help was available whenever it was needed. We are also grateful to the families, friends and employers whose continued support makes that commitment possible.

Alongside emergency response, volunteers continued their regular programme of training, equipment maintenance and operational readiness. This month included further development of our 5:1 casualty recovery system, refining techniques that improve the speed and safety of rescues in challenging environments.

With the school holidays approaching and visitor numbers continuing to increase, we'd encourage everyone planning a trip to the coast to check the weather forecast and tide times, avoid using inflatables offshore, and always carry a means of calling for help.

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

03/06/2026

Call Outs 066 – 106 | May 2026

May has been our busiest month on record, with the team responding to an incredible 41 incidents as we head towards the traditional summer peak.

The month saw periods of sustained operational demand, with as many as five call outs within a 24-hour period and, at one stage, three separate incidents in the space of just one hour. For a team of volunteers who respond around family life, work commitments and personal time, it has been a remarkable effort by everyone involved.

The variety of incidents has once again demonstrated the unpredictable nature of our role. During May the team responded to casualty evacuations, a yacht washed ashore on Seaford Beach, a RIB stranded on Brighton beach, a jet ski in difficulty, kayakers and windsurfers requiring assistance, reports of ordnance amongst the rocks at Saltdean, multiple searches for missing people, and several incidents involving people cut off by the tide.

We were also pleased to assist our colleagues from one of our nearby lifeboats when crew members found themselves stranded ashore during an incident.

With the warmer weather and Bank Holiday weekends bringing more people to the coast, our volunteers have been kept exceptionally busy. While we love seeing people enjoy our beautiful coastline, we'd encourage everyone to check tide times, weather forecasts and sea conditions before setting out, and to ensure they have the appropriate equipment for their activity.

Away from incidents, the team has continued with regular training, equipment checks and maintenance to ensure we remain ready to respond at a moment's notice. Highlights this month included an excellent rope rescue exercise where we trialled a new recovery method designed to improve deployment speed whilst reducing the amount of equipment required.

As always, none of this would be possible without the support of our families, employers and partner agencies. Their understanding and encouragement allow our volunteers to answer the pager, often at very short notice and at all hours of the day and night.

Thank you to everyone who supports the team and helps keep our coastline safe.

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

07/05/2026

Call Outs 037 – 065 | March & April 2026

Another busy couple of months for the team, with 29 incidents responded to across March and April — averaging almost one shout every 48 hours.

The incidents have once again shown just how varied Coastguard Rescue Team taskings can be. Over the past two months the team has responded to searches for missing people, assisted the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter with medivacs and landing site preparation, supported the lifeboat with casualty vessels, rescued people cut off by the tide, dealt with ordnance washed up onto the beach, assisted The Fire Service with a boat fire, and provided safety advice to fishermen during periods of extreme stormy weather.

One particularly memorable incident involved the rescue of a wind foiler who was blown out to sea after their wing failed offshore.

Alongside operational call outs, training remains a vital part of keeping the team ready to respond. During this period we were joined by our flank Coastguard Rescue Teams and were privileged to take part in a mental health awareness session delivered by SECAMB, Sussex Police and The Blue Light Line. The session provided valuable insight and support around mental wellbeing and resilience for emergency service personnel and volunteers.

As always, thank you to our families, employers and partner agencies for their continued support, and to the public for your ongoing encouragement and cooperation while incidents are ongoing.

If you see somebody in difficulty on the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

03/03/2026

Call Outs 001–036 | January & February 2026

Two months into 2026 and the team has already responded to 36 incidents, alongside dedicated training evenings to ensure we remain fully prepared and ready for deployment at any time.

It’s been cold, wet and dark — even during some of the daytime shouts — but our volunteers have continued to operate along the coastline, with searches for missing people, rescuing a dog that had fallen from the clifftop, and carrying out casualty evacuations from challenging locations. These have included incidents at Birling Gap steps following a cliff fall, unstable beach access steps, and operations involving the Newhaven Port pilot boat.

We are also very grateful to Seaford Angling Club, who kindly presented the team with a cheque for £400 in support of the Coastguard Association. Thank you for your generosity — donations like this help the charity continue its vital work supporting current and former Coastguards.

Coastal emergency? Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Newhaven Coastguard

01/10/2026

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