Dramatic aerial footage shows RNLI helicopter crew winching glider pilots to safety after they crash into the sea
- Footage emerged of two men being rescued after their glider crashed into sea
- Incident happened at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne in East Sussex, on Saturday
- The two men were winched to safety and did not need any medical treatment
Dramatic footage has emerged of two men being rescued after their glider crashed into the sea.
HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public who was on top of the cliffs at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne in East Sussex, on Saturday.
They reported seeing the aircraft going into the water but were unable to give its precise location.
Footage has emerged of the moment two men were brought back to safety after their glider crashed into the sea
A member of the public called HM Coastguard after spotting the glider crash into the sea at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne in East Sussex, on Saturday
The member of the public witnessed the glider go into the sea but were unable to give an accurate location
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At the same time, the crash was also witnessed by a light aircraft pilot in the Beachy Head area who spotted the glider flying low and crashing into the sea, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
The pilot, who was flying for Oscar Romeo Aviation Ltd, was able to circle around the glider’s debris in the water and relay accurate details of its location to HM Coastguard.
A HM Coasguard Lydd helicopter, RNLI Eastbourne and Newhaven Lifeboats and Eastbourne Coastguard and Birling Gap Coastguard were then sent to the scene.
The crash was also seen by a light aircraft pilot in the area who was able to give the coastguard a more accurate location
The two men were winched to safety and did not need any medical treatment following the crash
Ashley Rawson, coastguard aeronautical operations controller, said: ‘Luckily both glider occupants were unscathed and did not spend long in the sea’
Upon arrival the Coastguard was able to winch the two men from the base of the cliffs back to safety.
The men, who made a lucky escape, were not hurt and did not require medical treatment.
Ashley Rawson, coastguard aeronautical operations controller, said: ‘The professionalism and quick thinking displayed by a passing pilot has contributed to a faster rescue response due to the accurate location information.
‘Luckily both glider occupants were unscathed and did not spend long in the sea.’
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