Missing children at West Wittering and Camber Sands beaches

HM Coastguard launched multiple search operations for missing children at Camber Sands and West Wittering yesterday, June 21.

At West Wittering beach, five children were reported missing yesterday.

The first call for a 3-year-old came in just after 3pm. Lifeguards searched the area and Selsey and Littlehampton coastguard rescue teams were sent along with Sussex Police.

The child was found prior to teams arriving.

This was followed by a report of a missing 6-year-old at 3.45pm. Selsey and Littlehampton coastguard rescue teams and lifeguards were joined by lifeboats from Hayling Island and Sussex Police.

Five children were reported missing at West Wittering beach (Image: Ray Turner/Camera Club) The child was found safe and well shortly after, prior to the lifeboats arriving.

Just after 5pm, a 14-year old and a 9-year-old, who had been together, were reported missing.

Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team was sent and the children were located safe and well shortly after the initial call.

The final call came in just before 7pm reporting a missing 7-year-old.

Littlehampton and Hayling coastguard rescue teams were sent along with lifeboats from Hayling Island. The child was located by coastguard rescue officers and reunited with their family.

At Camber Sands, an 11-year-old child was reported missing at around 1.30pm. 

A child and an adult were reported missing at Camber Sands (Image: N Chadwick) RNLI lifeguards, who are stationed at the beach, were searching for the child, while coastguard rescue teams from Rye Bay and Romney Marsh and lifeboats from Rye Bay and Pett were sent.

The child was found safe and well prior to the coastguards and lifeboat crew arriving on scene.

An adult was also reported missing at Camber Sands at around 2.30pm. Romney Marsh and Rye Bay coastguard rescue teams were sent and the adult was found and reunited with their family.

Due to a number of reports of missing children to the lifeguards on the beach, the coastguard rescue teams stayed during the rest of the day to assist.

READ MORE: Popular beach parking sold out again as people warned not to travel

Tom Barnett, network commander at HM Coastguard said: “Keeping an eye on your children is obviously the best way to stop them wandering off into difficult situations, but we understand sometimes that can be a challenge.

“Busy beaches can be disorientating, especially to little ones, so it’s good to have a few Plan Bs up your sleeve.

“Take a photo of your child when you arrive that clearly shows what they look like and what they are wearing and agree a meeting point if they get lost like a lifeguard station.

“Some places even give away free kids’ wristbands to write your phone number on so you can be called if you do get separated or you can order your own from Wristbands.

“Remember in an emergency at the coast call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Please remain vigilant regarding the location of your children.

“We have had multiple reports come through to Sussex Police of parents losing sight of their children and being unable to find them due to how busy the beach becomes, which has required a large number of resources to assist them in being reunited with families.”