Lowestoft RNLI rescue swimmer swept out to sea by strong current
The man had been holding onto the South Pier for 15 minutes
Last updated 12th Aug 2025
A swimmer who was swept away by a strong current on a Lowestoft beach has been rescued by the Lowestoft RNLI.
Lowestoft lifeboat crew were alerted at 3.23pm yesterday (Monday 11 August) after a middle aged man was seen struggling by RNLI Beach lifeguards and was clinging to the end of South Pier.
Lowestoft lifeboat's Second Coxswain Karl Jackson said “HM Coastguard tasked us to a person in the water who was drifting past the end of South Pier. However, as we left our mooring, which is also on South Pier, a follow up report told us that the beach lifeguards had a visual sighting of a person clinging to the end of South Pier."
"As soon as we got to the pierhead we could see him, so I manoeuvred the lifeboat closer, and the crew threw him a line. They then pulled him towards the lifeboat and using the recovery davit brought him on to the deck."
"He was a middle-aged man who had been swimming on his own from the beach and drifted with the tide not realising the current was taking him or how strong it was.
There was a strong ebb tide and a strong current running. He was doing well to grip onto the end of the pier which he said he had been holding onto for about 15 minutes.
Once on board he seemed alright apart form a few scrapes and cuts and within minutes we were able to pass him into the care of the Ambulance crew and the Coastguard Rescue team who were waiting on the quayside.”