Dozens of emergency service personnel were reportedly called out to search for a person in the sea at Brighton in the early hours of the morning (Saturday, October 21).
Sussex Police said the large emergency response followed a report that a ‘distressed man may have entered the water’ near Brighton Palace Pier at 2.30am.
"After an extensive search in challenging weather conditions, the man was found safe ashore,” a police spokesperson added.
According to freelance photographer Eddie Mitchell – who was at the scene – one Coastguard rescue helicopter, three Coastguard teams, a Shoreham RNLI lifeboat and Sussex Police officers joined the search.
Mr Mitchell wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Horrendous conditions tonight for our emergency services, land, sea and air.”
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said crews supported Sussex Police ‘with an incident early this morning’.
1. Emergency incident off the coast at Brighton
A Coastguard helicopter was filmed conducting a search off the coast in Brighton amid an emergency call-out overnight. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
2. Emergency incident off the coast at Brighton
Coastguard crews and police officers joined a search off the coast in Brighton amid an emergency call-out overnight. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
3. Emergency incident off the coast at Brighton
Coastguard crews and police officers joined a search off the coast in Brighton amid an emergency call-out overnight. Photo: Eddie Mitchell
4. Emergency incident off the coast at Brighton
Coastguard crews and police officers joined a search off the coast in Brighton amid an emergency call-out overnight. Photo: Eddie Mitchell