Emergency crews called out over fears of man in sea at Margate

Distress flares off Canterbury Road Photo Dan Thompson

Police, ambulance crews and the coastguard were called out last night (May 12) over concerns for a man who had gone into the sea.

Police were called at 9.42pm with reports of the man entering the water on Margate beach, off Canterbury Road.

Officers attended the scene, accompanied by crews from the Coastguard, the RNLI and the South East Coast Ambulance.

UK Coastguard were contacted by Kent Police  requesting assistance. Margate’s RNLI inshore lifeboat, the coastguard helicopter from Lydd airport and local coastguard rescue team, were immediately tasked and joined the police in searching the area.

Search

Initially nothing was found and the search was extended to Infirmary Bay. A shoreline search involving Margate’s RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew, police and ambulance staff from South East Coast Ambulance Service was organised, the RNLI providing additional torches and illuminating parachute flares.

They also worked with paramedics to prepare equipment at the lifeboat launching site in anticipation of treating the casualty.

Distressed

Police then sighted something in the water and the lifeboat was directed to the scene where they found an adult male up to his chest in water, cold and distressed.

The man had to be coaxed by the lifeboat crew and he was eventually recovered into the lifeboat and immediately taken ashore and handed into the care of paramedics. He was reported to be physically uninjured but very cold and in an anxious state. The rescue units were stood down and returned to station.

Nick Smith, deputy launching authority Margate lifeboat, said: ‘Time was of the essence here and it was thanks to the determination and perseverance of all involved that this person was rescued. We urgently plead with people to dial 999 and ask for coastguard if they see anything untoward at sea or on the shoreline.”