A search was launched after reports a seal was caught up in fishing nets off the Sussex coast.
 

The alarm was raised on Saturday by several anxious members of the public.
 

The seal was spotted 50 metres off-shore at Eastbourne and was apparently in difficulties.
 

The RNLI lifeboat searched the area but could not find the seal at first.
 

A short while later the animal, which was fit and well, made a reappearance and then swam off.