Following a report of red flares sighted from Seasalter, Thames Coastguard initiated a search involving Whitstable Lifeboat, Sheerness Lifeboat, and Herne Bay and Sheppey Coastguard teams.

After about an hour, further information indicated that the flares were likely to have been fired from further north, off the Essex coast, so Whitstable and Sheerness lifeboats were released to return to station, with the search being continued by Burnham Lifeboat on the River Crouch