Fears were raised as the search came just days after the deaths of five men from London who were dragged out to sea in a powerful rip current.
Advertisement
The police and coastguards are also involved in the operation near Rye, an RNLI spokeswoman said.
Vessels from the coast guard and the Royal National Lifeboat Association were patrolling the choppy waters Sunday near Camber Sands, 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of London, in hopes of finding the missing swimmer.
A pair of “abandoned” flip flops at Camber Sands sparked a major search for a “missing” swimmer today. “It’s a great relief that this person has been found safe and well”.
“A female was seen diving into the sea at this location”.
A coastguard helicopter is circling above Camber Sands, and a spokesperson for the RNLI confirmed they had lifeboats at the scene.
On Wednesday, five friends, all aged in their teens or 20s, died at the popular beach, prompting the local council to deploy lifeguards on the normally unpatrolled seafront for the rest of the summer holiday.
A spokeswoman for the force told the BBC: “Officers are at the scene doing coastal checks to see if any person swimming there is having difficulties”.
Relatives have criticised the lack of lifeguards, suggesting their loved ones may have survived if the beach was manned.
Up to six RNLI lifeguards were due to be on duty at Camber Sands over the weekend, plus a team giving safety information to beach-goers between Saturday and Monday.
It is believed they were playing football on a sandbank when Ken and friend Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, got stuck in quicksand below the water.
Advertisement
Patrols are now in place at Camber Sands in the wake of the deaths.
