The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter was over Thanet tonight (July 27) after receiving a report that a person was in trouble in the water.
The helicopter from Lydd searched an area from Botany Bay and Palm Bay along with Margate coastguard and Margate RNLI.
The alert came after a report of an abandoned kite surfing rig drifting off Botany Bay at around 7pm.
The coastguard issued an appeal, saying: ” We currently need some help to find the owner of a black and yellow kite which has been found in the Botany Bay area this evening.
“Our HM Coastguard helicopter from Lydd is currently out searching the area along with RNLI lifeboats from Margate and the Coastguard Rescue Team, also from Margate. The search began after several calls were received saying someone was in trouble in the water.
“At the moment though nothing untoward has been found and it’s more than possible that someone may just have lost the kite.
“If that’s you or you know who it might be, please could you contact Dover Coastguard Operations Room on 01304 210008.”
An intensive air, sea and shoreline search was carried out between North Foreland to the east and Westgate-on-Sea to the west up to two miles offshore allowing for the influence of wind and tide.
After around three hours, and with no further information as to the origins of the rig forthcoming, UK Coastguard terminated the search and all units were released to return to station. The kite surfing rig was recovered by Margate’s all-weather lifeboat.
