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Wind on scene was a Northerly force 1-2 with a Calm sea and Good visibility.
Launched: Sun 14th Feb 19:23 hrs
Returned: Sun 14th Feb 20:45 hrs (1 hr 22 mins)
Ready for Service: Sun 14th Feb 21:00 hrs
Wind on scene was a Northerly force 1-2 with a Calm sea and Good visibility.
RNLI Brighton Lifeboat was launched to a report of a hot air balloon that was seen to ditch in the sea between the Brighton and West Piers.
A member of the public dialed 999 and described having seen flames ascend from the basket, and ignite the balloon as it landed in the water approximately 1 mile offshore.
Given the flat calm conditions and possibility of persons in the water, Solent Coastguard requested that both the B and Y Class boats launch and also tasked rescue helicopter 104 to locate the balloon and survivors. Mobile Coastguard units and Sussex Police also searched from the shoreline while liaising with the first informant.
Arriving on scene, with excellent visibility, it quickly became apparent that it was unlikely to have been a very large balloon as nothing was visible on the surface.
Approximately 30 minutes into the search a Chinese lantern was seen drifting overhead and with Chinese New Year celebrations under way at a restaurant near the West Pier, an alternative explanation for the tasking was considered.
Sure enough, a few minutes later the lifeboat found the charred remains of a Chinese lantern not far from the position of the reported sighting.
With Solent Coastguard satisfied that what had actually been sighted was a Chinese Lantern, all units where stood down and Brighton Lifeboat returned to station.
A member of the public dialed 999 and described having seen flames ascend from the basket, and ignite the balloon as it landed in the water approximately 1 mile offshore.
Given the flat calm conditions and possibility of persons in the water, Solent Coastguard requested that both the B and Y Class boats launch and also tasked rescue helicopter 104 to locate the balloon and survivors. Mobile Coastguard units and Sussex Police also searched from the shoreline while liaising with the first informant.
Arriving on scene, with excellent visibility, it quickly became apparent that it was unlikely to have been a very large balloon as nothing was visible on the surface.
Approximately 30 minutes into the search a Chinese lantern was seen drifting overhead and with Chinese New Year celebrations under way at a restaurant near the West Pier, an alternative explanation for the tasking was considered.
Sure enough, a few minutes later the lifeboat found the charred remains of a Chinese lantern not far from the position of the reported sighting.
With Solent Coastguard satisfied that what had actually been sighted was a Chinese Lantern, all units where stood down and Brighton Lifeboat returned to station.
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Approximate rescue location
The RNLI flag indicates the lifeboat station, the red pin is the casualties position