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Beach walker trapped by 'massive sucker punch' wave
11 Feb
Summary
- A gardener was trapped by a high tide and huge waves near Seven Sisters.
- He was rescued by RNLI volunteers after contacting coastguard via radio.
- The incident highlighted the dangers of spring tides and the importance of checking times.
A routine walk along the Sussex coast became a fight for survival for gardener Chris Haffenden last Thursday. While walking between Seven Sisters and Birling Gap, near Seaford, a sudden, exceptionally high tide and large waves trapped the 44-year-old against the cliffs.
Haffenden described the experience as a "massive sucker punch of freezing wet water," finding himself knee-deep in the surging sea. He realized too late it was a spring tide, something he had never fully understood the danger of until this incident. With no phone reception, his only recourse was a radio he carried in his bag to contact the coastguard.
RNLI lifeboat crews faced "challenging shore-dump conditions" with two-meter waves breaking. Volunteers from Newhaven launched their inshore lifeboat to reach Haffenden, who was found about 500 metres west of the William Charles Monument. Despite the difficult conditions, which required the rescue boat to retreat temporarily to bail out water, they successfully brought him to safety.
Haffenden, though initially embarrassed, emerged uninjured and hailed his rescuers as "heroes" for their voluntary service. RNLI water safety officer Claire Rozario advised walkers to always check tide times, allow ample return time, and carry a means of communication, underscoring the potential perils of the coastline.
