This is the page for all the latest news from Sussex Search and Rescue, with details of all our recent operational activities ordered by most recent first. Our PR Officer, Steve Dennis, is always available to deal with enquiries relating to our current operational status and can be contacted on 07515 666567. Interviews can be arranged by appointment.
For older news on the Unit's operational activities, please click on the appropriate year - pre-2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
So far this year:
In-county callouts = 4
Out of county callouts = 2
Total callouts = 6 (+ 1 standby)
SusSAR callout Slindon, West Sussex
More details to follow when available.
SusSAR callout Winchelsea, East Sussex
Police search teams, accompanied by HM Coastguard, have undertaken an extensive search in the Rye and Winchelsea area for a 49-year-old woman reported missing from her home in Winchelsea early on Thursday evening. We were called out at noon today as Sussex Police widened the search to area, and the woman's body was found at about 1700 GMT.
SusSAR callout for elderly missing person in Hailsham
We were called out at 11pm this evening to support the police in their search for a 77 year old female in the Hailsham area. Seventeen members of SusSAR attended with support gratefully received from Lowland Search Dogs Sussex and Kent Search and Rescue. Personnel searched through the night and were eventually stood down at 06:00hrs due to exhaustion. Sadly the missing person was found deceased soon after, a distance from the search area.
SusSAR attend Sussex Police search exercise
Members of the Unit attended a search exercise in the Angmering Park area of West Sussex. This was an opportunity for us to work alongside members of other search organisations, to help develop our methods of working together.
SusSAR callout for missing child in Haywards Heath
The Unit was called out this afternoon when a pupil failed to return from school. We were stood down shortly after the first of our members arrived on the scene, with the boy having been located safe and well.
SusSAR appear on BBC 1 'Missing Live'
Did you see us on TV? We re-enacted one of our successful searches from last Autumn for this popular day-time show.
Training Evening
With many of our members having recently attended first aid courses, the focus of our March training was to test this new knowledge with a number of first aid scenarios. At the same time, we were able to deliver some update training for members of our mountain biking team, to give them the chance to practice using some of our recently purchased equipment.
SusSAR callout to assist Hampshire Search and Rescue
At 8pm a number of SusSAR members responded to assist Hampshire Search and Rescue following a report of a despondant male missing in the Church Crookham area. Whilst en route the standdown call was received as the gentleman was found deceased.
SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby this morning to search for a missing woman in the Cuckfield area. We were stood down before attending after the lady was found by the Sussex Police Helicopter.
Training Evening
For our training evening this month, we undertook a simulated search exercise at Chanctonbury Ring. As well as practising our search skills, it also gave us the opportunity to re-visit our search plan for the area, which provides specific data and information about certain areas in Sussex in which we may be called out to, in order to look for missing persons.
Training Evening
This months training was a search exercise which took place on the Downs in the vicinity of Lancing College, and was an opportunity for members to refresh their knowledge on navigation and radio communications.
SusSAR callout to assist Hampshire Search and Rescue
At just before 1am a number of SusSAR members responded in sub zero temperatures to assist Hampshire Search and Rescue in the search for a missing lady in her sixties. The lady who suffers a form of dementia was subsequently found and taken to hospital where she was checked over and found to be ok despite being very cold.