A girl and her grandfather were swept two miles out to sea on a kayak and paddleboard.
The pair travelled at more than 11 miles per hour away from the shore rapidly heading towards channel shipping lanes.
It was thanks to the girl's quick-thinking grandmother who raised the alarm that they were saved before becoming too cold, or going into dangerous waters in the middle of the English channel.
They were paddling in Pevensey Bay just 30m off the coast when they got into difficulty, with the strong offshore breeze pushing them further out by the second.
Volunteer crews from Eastbourne RNLI were dispatched with their D-class lifeboat to search for the duo.
Within 11 minutes of being tasked, the two were located some two miles out to sea.
A spokeswoman for the RNLI said: "Both were brought back to shore safe and well.
"The prompt 999 call to HM Coastguard from the boy’s grandmother meant the volunteer crew was able to reach them before they became too cold or were swept further offshore."
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