Fisherman swept into the sea while celebrating birthday rescued by RNLI Hayling Island crew
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The fisherman had made some great catches before being forced into the water
A fisherman who was swept into the sea while celebrating his birthday had to be rescued by a lifeboat crew.
Emergency personnel from Hayling Island’s RNLI lifeboat station rushed to the scene near Chichester Bar. Reports were made of a man being swept into the water and hanging onto a pole for dear life.
The incident took place at around 10am on the morning of September 11. Video footage shows the D Class lifeboat speeding away from the station.
A RNLI Hayling Island social media statement said: “On arrival they found a fisherman who had been swept off the sand bank into the strong tide. His waders were completely full of water, but luckily he had managed to grab hold of a marker post and was desperately clinging on.
“He passed the crew his fishing equipment and they recovered him on to the boat. They then took him straight back to the station to warm up.
“He told them he’d gone out fishing for his birthday, he was enjoying the day and had caught some nice bass, before suddenly getting swept away. He said the lifeboat arrived just in time, as he would never have been able to get out of the situation without them, and it could have been his last birthday.”
The RNLI thanked the public for raising the alarm.