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The volunteer crew of Eastbourne’s lifeboats, who spent the weekend searching for two missing crewmen off the Sussex coast, have sent heartfelt sympathy to the grieving families.

The search for the two missing men, who were lost after their fishing vessel Joanna C capsized on Saturday morning, was called off yesterday (Sunday) and the two are now officially missing at sea.

Eastbourne lifeboat coxswain Mark Sawyer said it had been a harrowing weekend for all those involved in the search for the two men, who are believed to be from Newhaven.

A spokesperson at Eastbourne RNLI said all maritime rescue services were alerted early on Saturday morning when an automatic signal was received from the stricken Brixham registered scalloping vessel Joanna C.

Candles and lights at Sovereign Harbour for the two fishermen missing at sea. Photos by Keilan Sharrod Scott SUS-201123-144053001

The spokesperson said, “ All available resources were scrambled including Eastbourne RNLI all-weather lifeboat, Newhaven RNLI lifeboat, coastguard rescue helicopters from Lydd and the Solent, along with local coastguard teams from Birling Gap and Eastbourne.

“The beacon guided the rescuers to a position approximately five miles south of Newhaven. In gale force winds and heavy seas the vessel’s skipper was located clinging desperately to a lifebuoy and was hauled from the water by Newhaven lifeboat crews and taken ashore for urgent medical assistance.

“The skipper indicated his boat had floundered in the heavy seas and sunk before the crew was able to launch their liferaft and that there were still two crewmen unaccounted for.

Eastbourne lifeboat crews’ heartfelt sympathy for missing fishermen