A woman has been taken to hospital after a major rescue operation at Birling Gap this afternoon (Wednesday 3).
HM Coastguard were called to a report of a walker being cut off by the tide at Birling Gap, at around 1.15pm.
Eastbourne and Birling gap Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent with Eastbourne and Newhaven RNLI lifeabots, and the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopters to assist.
Two members of the public, believed to be surfers, provided a life jacket to the casualty.
The nearby Inshore lifeboat from Eastbourne attended initially but capsized.
A total of six people were left in the water as a result.
Three people, two of whom were helping the initial casualty, were winched from the water by the helicopter and brought ashore, before being passed into the care of SECAmb.
The three members of crew from the capsized lifeboat were safely rescued by the All Weather lifeboat from Eastbourne.
A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said:
"At just after 1.15pm today, HM Coastguard received a report of one casualty being cut off by the tide at Birling Gap, East Sussex.
"Eastbourne and Birling Gap Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent as well as Eastbourne and Newhaven RNLI lifeboats, and the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopters from Lydd and Lee-on-Solent, to assist.
"Two members of the public – believed to be surfers at Birling Gap – assisted in providing a life jacket to the casualty.
"The nearby Inshore lifeboat from Eastbourne attended to the initial casualty and two other people, who were now in the water also, but capsized when attempting to rescue all those involved to a place of safety.
"As a result – and at that time – there were six confirmed people in the water requiring assistance.
"Three people – two of whom were assisting at the scene and the initial casualty – were all winched from the water by the helicopter from Lydd and brought ashore, before being passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedics.
"The crew – three people – from the capsized lifeboat, were safely rescued by the All Weather lifeboat from Eastbourne.
"Six people were rescued in total."
A spokesperson from Sussex Police said:
"At 2.13pm on Wednesday 3 February police received a report that the Eastbourne RNLI inshore lifeboat had capsised while going to the rescue of two walkers who had become trapped by the tide on the foreshore at Birling Gap, East Dean.
"The lifeboat crew and the two walkers were quickly rescued by the Coastguard and RNLI vessels, working with a Coastguard helicopter.
"The crew were unharmed and one of the walkers, a woman, was taken to hospital to be treated or the effects of hyopthermia.
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