Wing foiler Tobias Morrish got into difficulty due to high winds, sparking a rescue mission by the RNLI.
The wingfoiler in distress (Image: RNLI)
Mr Morrish, 33, said of the incident on April 28: “I’m an experienced kitesurfer, but I’ve only been wing foiling for a year or so.
“I went too far out and then the middle strut of my wing failed.
“I started trying to swim back but it was taking ages, so I waved to people on the shore and the lifeboat came to rescue me.
“I’ve been doing water sports all my life, but even people like me can get into trouble.
“It’s a reminder of why we need the RNLI, they’re fantastic and almost as important as the NHS or the police in my eyes – what would I have done without them?”
A member of the public spotted wing foiler Tobias Morrish waving for help near the Salts Recreation Ground.
The RNLI launched its D-class inshore lifeboat, Bill Hall, and reached Mr Morrish within 10 minutes.
Volunteer crew pulled Mr Morrish from the water, confirmed he was unhurt, and brought him in off Seaford Beach, where he swam ashore and was met by the coastguard.
Katherine Nash, a volunteer lifeboat crew member and trainee helm who took charge of the rescue, said: “The sea was slight, but the offshore winds were strong and pulling Tobias further away from the shore.
“We were glad to find him tired but otherwise well and to bring him back to safety.”
A wing foiler uses a handheld inflatable wing while standing on a small board fitted with a hydrofoil, which lifts the board out of the water.
Mr Morrish, part-owner of Skipper Water Sports on Seaford Beach, said the business plans to hold a fundraising day for Newhaven RNLI this summer to thank the crew.
Guy Addington, RNLI regional water safety lead, said: “This rescue shows even highly experienced and well‑prepared water users can sometimes get into difficulty when conditions change unexpectedly.
“The individual involved was properly equipped and had plenty of experience, but the sea can be unpredictable and can catch anybody out.”
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