'World class' planning behind rescues at Airbourne

The Red Arrows appeared on all four days of the airshow

A "phenomenal" level of planning made sure there were no serious incidents at Eastbourne Airbourne, despite several people having to be rescued from the water.

The annual international air show attracted about 750,000 people to the East Sussex town between Thursday and Sunday.

Organisers said there were 52 sea rescues across the four days.

The RNLI said it was called to help an adult and child who had got into difficulty on a paddleboard in Seaford Bay, and was called to "multiple casualties" in difficulty at the Wish Tower, both on Sunday.

Co-ordinated planning between the council and emergency services for Eastbourne Airbourne is "world class", said the authority

Jenny Williams, cabinet member for tourism at Eastbourne Borough Council, said the emergency services, including lifeguards, had been "there in an instant".

She told BBC Radio Sussex the council took immediate action when the sea conditions deteriorated on Sunday.

"We put the red flags up, because it got really choppy, almost when the Red Arrows were coming," she said. "I was thinking 'is it going to be too windy?'

"There were a number of people that we had to support, but the planning from our events team is world class. We have RNLI in the water and we have all of our emergency services along the seafront, it's a massive operation.

"The amount of work is phenomenal."

Jenny Williams said the air show had brought hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to Eastbourne

She also said the event had been a great financial success for the town.

"All the way from Beachy Head to the harbour was filled with people having a great time on the beach.

"One in four of our jobs is about tourism. Our weekend bandstand concerts were sold out, our hotels are full, our restaurants, our shops are full."

HM Coastguard said it received a number of separate reports of people in difficulty in the water off Eastbourne on Sunday.

A spokesman said: "Responses included coastguard rescue teams being sent from Eastbourne and Birling Gap, as well as an RNLI lifeboat from Eastbourne.

"All people made their own way to shore or were recovered safely and accounted for, with South East Coast Ambulance Service providing care where required."