A large multi-agency sea rescue attempt was launched last night.
The emergency operation was started after a report of a missing person in the Hastings area on Thursday, July 31.
Beginning with RNLI Rye Harbour, the operation was eventually joined by RNLI teams from Eastbourne, Hastings, and Dungeness, as well as Pett Level Independent Rescue, HM Coastguard, and Sussex Police.
Despite hours of coordinated searching, nothing was found, and efforts were stood down early on Friday morning.
"On launch, the task was changed to a search between Fairlight Cove to Ore for a vulnerable missing person.
"By 7.15pm, three lifeboats had started search patterns to find the casualty."
The search was later extended to between Fairlight Cove and Bexhill.
At 9.30pm, an HM Coastguard helicopter was also tasked to search the area.
At 11pm, with fuel running low, RNLI Rye Harbour's three inshore lifeboats were stood down to return to base.
All-weather boats from RNLI Dungness, RNLI Hastings and RNLI Eastbourne took over the search.
"Working with RNLI Hastings and RNLI Rye Harbour, lifeboats conducted coordinated search patterns along the coastline between Fairlight and Bexhill.
"Teams from HM Coastguard led the onshore search.
"As the operation continued, crews from RNLI Dungeness and RNLI Eastbourne were called to extend the search.
"After four hours, with very limited visibility and low fuel, we were stood down."
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RNLI Eastbourne added: "On Thursday, July 31, at 9.59pm, Solent Coastguard requested the launch of our all-weather lifeboat 'Esme Anderson' to join into a multi-agency search for a missing person in the Hastings area.
"An extensive search was carried out for a number of hours, but with nothing found, the search was suspended in the early hours of Friday morning."
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