Two lifeboats in search for car in tragic cliff-fall The RNLI's chairman, Michael Vemon, has written to the coxswain of Eastbourne's All-weather lifeboat commending him on his actions during a service on 23 June 1990. The helmsman of the station's Inshore lifeboat has received a letter of thanks from the chief of operations for his part in the same service.The operation began at 1316 on Saturday 23 June 1990 when Dover Coastguard alerted Eastbourne lifeboat station that a car had been seen at the bottom of a cliff one cable east of Beachy Head lighthouse, to the south west of the station.

The coastguard asked that the inshore lifeboat be launched to investigate whether the occupants, believed to be a woman and two children, had survived. At 1320Eastbourne's D class lifeboat was launched on service, and three minutes later the Rother class lifeboat Duke of Kent was also launched in support. The wind at the launch site was SSW Force 4 to 5, with a moderate swell.

The D class arrived at the scene some 12 minutes after launching, giving Beachy Head Ledge a wide berth in the heavy swell.

Surf An approach was made from the west, to run down-sea to the position of the car and veer in using the anchor, as the breaking surf was too rough for a beach landing.

After anchoring at the second attempt the lifeboat veered in to the shore towards the car, which was now awash .

Crew member Malcolm Hollobone swam ashore through the breaking surf to reconnoitre, and crew member John Hemingway followed, with a line to the stern of the D class to steady her in the surf, and was washed off his feet - allowing the slack line to foul the propeller.

The boat was hauled into deeper water to clear it, but a series of heavy waves broke into her and she swung beam-on to the surf and capsized in chest-deep water at about 1345.

Crew member Tony Hyland was under the boat as she capsized, but quickly extracted himself and was swept clear. Helmsman Tucker tried unsuccessfully to right the boat alone, so Crew member Malcolm Hollobone swam out to assist, despite being knocked back several times. Their joint attempts to right the boat were also unsuccessful.

The Rother class lifeboat Duke of Kent arrived off Beachy Head Ledge at 1345 Just as the inshore lifeboat capsized, and Coxswain/ Mechanic Graham Cole immediatelydecided to position the lifeboat where a rescue attempt could be made.

Duke of Kent was taken into 2.5m of water, some half-a-cable from the inshore lifeboat, and anchored by the stern to keep the propellers in deeper water, away from the rocks, The warp was led forward to the bow so she could be swung round to clear the area if necessary. A rocket line was also prepared.

While Coxswain Cole was waiting for the inshore lifeboat crew to reach the shore Duke of Kent touched the rocks, and he moved her into deeper water. The tide was ebbing quickly and the lifeboat's motion was severe, in winds now gusting to Force 7 with a heavy SSW swell and rough sea.

Damaged At approximately 1515 the inshore lifeboat was ready for recovery by the Rother, having been righted by her crew with the help of the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team.

The outboard motor had been damaged on rocks and was unserviceable.

The Rother anchored again one-and-a-half cables from the shore in 2.5m of water and a rocket line fired to pass a line ashore.

Helmsman Tucker had prepared the D class for recovery from the beach and the line from the Rother was secured to her and, with Helmsman Tucker aboard, she was hauledseaward by the Rother and secured alongside.

Both lifeboats then returned to station, with the remainder of the inshore lifeboat crew returning by road, and recovered at 1603.

One of Duke of Kent's shafts and propeller were found to be slightly damaged, and the inshore lifeboat had suffered damage to her hull and bow boards. The engine had been severely damaged and a number of items of equipment were missing so a replacement was requested immediately.

The actions of Coxswain Cole in placing Duke of Kent into such shallow water in rough conditions were praised by all who witnessed the incident. His actions displayed an exemplary knowledge of local shoal waters, and by anchoring the lifeboat by the stern he minimised the likely damage in the heavy swell.

Sadly, the occupants of the car did not survive the fall..