Two people were spotted in the sea west of Brighton Palace Pier early yesterday morning, prompting a rapid response from Brighton RNLI and emergency services.

At 5.40am, the volunteer crew from Brighton Lifeboat Station launched after reports of two individuals in distress in the water. According to RNLI Brighton, one person had already been helped from the sea, while the other was heard screaming for help.

Police were already on the scene, and the second casualty managed to make it out of the water safely just moments before the lifeboat crew arrived. The lifeboat was stood down at 5.42am, just two minutes after launching.

A spokesperson for Brighton RNLI praised the swift coordination: “? A quick response from all emergency services and a powerful reminder that even in shallow water, things can go wrong fast.”

No injuries have been reported, but the incident highlights the dangers of entering the sea, even in calm conditions.