VIDEO: Hot tub ends up floating off coast as houseboat sinks

Lifeboat called to help with two houseboats. Photo: RNLI

Newhaven’s relief Severn Class lifeboat ‘RNLB Daniel L Gibson’ and her volunteer crew were launched at 4.50pm to a Tug towing two houseboats with one taking on water.

Newhaven Lifeboat headed south to the last reported position of where the tug and the houseboats had first got into difficulties.

The tug and the towed vessels were on their way to the Thames area when the tug crew reported that one of the 22 metre houseboats was taking on water.

An RNLI report says: “Arriving on scene at 5.12pm, seven miles from Newhaven Harbour it was clear that little could be done for the one houseboat. The houseboat sunk at 5.36pm.”

Working in conjunction with the tug crew the lifeboat helped to collect some of the debris now floating on the water.

Having received a line and buoy from the tug the lifeboat crew marked the position of the wreck.

Dover Coastguard were informed of the location of the wreck and the debris field. A navigation warning has been issued for the area.

The house boat that sunk had a hot tub installed that came loose during the sinking.

The hot tub was too large to recover on to the lifeboat and is currently adrift in the English Channel. Its last known position was passed to Dover Coastguard

The lifeboat left the scene at 6.31 and returned to Newhaven Harbour and was ready for service at 7.30pm.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.