The lifeboat was launched to a report of a person in the water off Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey. An informant on shore had reported to Thames Coastguard that they had seen a person jump from a boat with a white flashing light, the vessel then having motored away.

The lifeboat arrived at the scene and commenced a search, and in the process the crew spoke to the crew of the fishing vessel Jacqueline, ¼-mile offshore, who confirmed that they had ‘shot’ their nets an hour previously and were the probable source of the white flashing light.

The lifeboat crew continued with their search but just after midnight Thames Coastguard terminated the operation and the lifeboat returned to station.