Byline: The funeral of Daphne Lake, a long term supporter and fundraiser for Eastbourne lifeboats was briefly interrupted this morning when the crew were paged to an incident off Sovereign Harbour

Page Content: A packed house had gathered at St Richard’s Church Langney to pay their tributes to the life of a popular long term supporter of Eastbourne lifeboats when suddenly the crew pagers interrupted proceedings. The on duty volunteer lifeboat crew were forced to abruptly rush to the assistance of a crewman aboard Eastbourne’s largest commercial fishing boat who had suffered a severe allergic reaction.

The skipper of the Royal Sovereign became very concerned when one of his crew became seriously ill and contacted Dover Coastguard for immediate assistance. Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat was scrambled and was quickly on scene with the station’s medical advisor Stephen Lytton and crewman paramedic Guy Emery on board. The two were transferred to the Royal Sovereign to administer medical treatment to the casualty. With the casualty stabilised he was transferred to the ALB and transported back to Sovereign Harbour where he was passed into the care of a waiting ambulance crew who took him to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Later, friends of Daphne said she would have been delighted with the drama at Church which would have made her day.