A media studies student was rescued from the wreckage of the West Pier after a dinghy that he “borrowed” sank early this morning.
The student was taking photographs when the boat began taking in water.
He managed to clamber on to the remains of the pier and call 999 on his mobile phone.
The RNLI Brighton lifeboat rescued the stranded man, thought to be in his early twenties, shortly after 7.30am and brought him ashore.
They also recovered the dinghy which was floating just below the surface of the water.
The RNLI said that the student was ill-prepared and, having been in the sea, was lucky that his mobile phone worked when he rang for help.
The student, who said that he was taking pictures for his course, was spoken to by officers from Sussex Police and the Solent Coastguard when he was returned to the beach.
