A man has been critically injured after tombstoning – jumping into the sea – at low tide from the Palace Pier in Brighton.
He fell about 40ft into just 3ft of water shortly before 6.30pm this evening (Saturday 2 July).
The RNLI Brighton lifeboat crew and three Brighton and Hove City Council lifeguards helped the casualty ashore using a basket stretcher after reports that he had suffered head or spinal injuries.
The RNLI said: “The casualty was bleeding from the mouth, showed severe bruising down his right side and was not fully alert, possibly under the influence of alcohol.
“Crewman Gurr entered the water and quickly secured a neck collar while the basket stretcher was made ready.
“The casualty was carefully transferred to the stretcher and one side of the lifeboat was deflated to permit a safer and easier recovery of the casualty from the water.
“Once the casualty was on board the decision was made to quickly beach the lifeboat as it was only 100 metres from the shore and an ambulance had been called to that location.
“With support from the lifeguards and Sussex Police the casualty was carefully transferred from the lifeboat and up the beach to a position where he could be quickly evacuated to the ambulance.
“Brighton lifeboat crew monitored the casualty’s situation throughout.
“After a few moments personnel from South East Coast Ambulance Service arrived and transferred the casualty to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.”
