A person was found safe on the shore after reports of a sea swimmer in difficulty in “torrential rain” this morning.
Rescue teams were seen near Worthing Pier at around 7.30am.
Shoreham RNLI attended, as well coastguard teams from Shoreham, Littlehampton and a coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent.
The person, a paddleboarder, was found safe and well and the incident was closed just after 9am.
A Shoreham RNLI spokeswoman said: “Shoreham’s all-weather lifeboat was launched to search for a swimmer reported to have been in difficulty off Worthing Pier this morning in torrential rain.
"We attended along with the Shoreham and Littlehampton Coastguard teams and HM Coastguard helicopter rescue 175.
“The swimmer was located safe ashore. The call was made with good intent.”
An HM Coastguard spokeswoman said: “We assisted Sussex Police with a search for a person in water this morning in Worthing, which turned out to be a false alarm.
“The coastguard was called just after 7.30am, and coastguard rescue teams from Shoreham and Littlehampton, an inshore lifeboat from Shoreham RNLI and the coastguard helicopter from Lee-On-The-Solent were sent to the scene.
“After searching the seafront, investigations confirmed that no one was in distress. The person in water was in fact a paddleboarder who did not require assistance.
"The incident was closed at 9.15am.”
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