Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: A routine afternoon along the Sussex coast turned into a major emergency on Tuesday, August 18, after four people got into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort in Shoreham-by-Sea. A large rescue operation quickly developed around the harbour, with police, coastguard teams, an RNLI lifeboat, ambulances and air ambulances sent to the area.
The incident was reported at about 2.45 pm, prompting emergency crews to move towards the seafront and Shoreham Harbour. Sussex Police also closed part of the A259 near Shoreham Fort while responders dealt with the situation and asked members of the public to stay away from the area.
ITV Meridian later reported that two adults and two children had been pulled from the water, although authorities had not immediately provided a full update on their conditions.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Four People Rescued From Water Near Shoreham Fort
The emergency began after reports emerged that four people were struggling in the water close to Shoreham Fort.
The scale of the response showed how seriously the incident was being treated. HM Coastguard deployed a helicopter along with rescue teams from Littlehampton, Shoreham and Newhaven. Shoreham RNLI also sent a lifeboat to assist with the operation.
South East Coast Ambulance Service sent multiple resources after receiving reports that people involved in the incident required medical attention.
Emergency vehicles and rescue personnel could be seen around the harbour as the operation continued. Reports from the scene also indicated that air ambulances arrived in the Shoreham area.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Two Adults and Two Children Reportedly Pulled From Water
The incident later gained more detail when ITV Meridian reported that two adults and two children had been pulled from the water near Shoreham Fort.
The report said emergency services were dealing with a serious incident, with footage showing numerous ambulances near the area.
The precise circumstances that led to the four people entering difficulty in the water had not been fully established in the immediate aftermath. Authorities had also not released a detailed medical update on those involved.
Because the rescue operation was still developing, emergency agencies continued to manage the area while crews responded to the incident.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Coastguard Sends Helicopter and Three Rescue Teams
HM Coastguard received the report at approximately 2.45 pm and quickly mobilised several specialist units.
A Coastguard spokesperson said, “HM Coastguard responded to an incident reported at Shoreham at about 2.45 pm on August 18.
“An HM Coastguard helicopter was sent, as well as Littlehampton, Shoreham, and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, and an RNLI lifeboat from Shoreham.”
The deployment brought together teams with different roles, allowing rescuers to search the water, assist those recovered and provide support from the shore.
The response also included ambulance crews and air ambulance resources as the emergency operation continued.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Air Ambulances Seen Near Shoreham
The emergency response expanded beyond the immediate harbour area, with air ambulance crews also attending.
Images from Shoreham showed an air ambulance landing in the area during the afternoon. Local reports also indicated that another air ambulance landed near Southwick Lighthouse.
The presence of specialist medical aircraft highlighted the seriousness with which emergency services treated the incident, although the exact medical condition of the people involved remained unclear at the time of the initial reports.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: A259 Closed Near Shoreham Fort During Rescue
The rescue operation also affected traffic around Shoreham.
Sussex Police confirmed that a section of the A259 near Shoreham Fort was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident.
The road closure helped create space for emergency vehicles and allowed rescue teams to work without additional traffic moving through the area.
Police urged people to keep away from the scene while the operation was underway.
The incident attracted a substantial emergency response, with multiple ambulances and specialist vehicles gathered around Shoreham Harbour.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Which Emergency Services Responded?
Several agencies worked together during the Shoreham water rescue.
The response included:
- Sussex Police
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- HM Coastguard
- Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team
- Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team
- Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team
- Shoreham RNLI lifeboat
- Air ambulance teams
The combination of maritime rescue crews, police officers and specialist medical teams allowed emergency services to respond from both the water and the shore.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Shoreham MP Tom Rutland Reacts to Incident
Tom Rutland, the Labour MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, also responded to reports of the incident.
In a post on X, Rutland said he was “deeply concerned” about reports of multiple people getting into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Harbour.
He said his thoughts were with “everyone involved and their loved ones”.
Rutland said it would “undoubtedly be an extremely worrying time”.
The MP also said he had contacted police for further information but recognised that the incident was still developing.
He added, “I have reached out to the police for further information, but this is an ongoing incident and the priority of emergency services should of course be responding to the incident.”
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: What Happened at Shoreham Harbour?
The exact sequence of events leading to the four people getting into difficulty remained unclear in the first reports.
Authorities confirmed that four people had experienced trouble in the water near Shoreham Fort, while later reports said two adults and two children had been pulled from the water.
Emergency agencies did not immediately release a detailed account of what caused the incident or provide a comprehensive update on the condition of those rescued.
The priority remained the rescue operation and medical treatment of those involved.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: Major Emergency Operation Brings Shoreham Coast to Standstill
The incident resulted in a highly visible emergency operation around Shoreham Harbour.
Residents and visitors in the area saw police vehicles, ambulances, coastguard crews, rescue equipment and helicopters involved in the response. The closure of the A259 added to disruption around Shoreham Fort as emergency workers continued operating at the scene.
Reports from local sources described a significant emergency presence, while national outlets also reported the deployment of multiple ambulances and air ambulances.
Shoreham Sea Incident Sussex: What Happens Next in the Shoreham Water Rescue?
Authorities are expected to provide further information as they establish what happened and assess the condition of those involved.
For now, the confirmed details are that four people got into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort on Tuesday afternoon, emergency services launched a major response, and later reports said two adults and two children were pulled from the water.
The circumstances surrounding the incident and the condition of those rescued remain the key points awaiting further official clarification.
