Missing passengers leads to ten hour search

13th November 2006 0255hrs - The lifeboat crew were summoned to the station and the lifeboat launched to search for two passengers suspected of having fallen overboard from one of the cross channel ferries. The P&O ferry 'Pride of Kent' had arrived in Calais and as the coaches were being disembarked, a driver reported that two of his passengers had not rejoined the coach. After searching the ferry twice and finding no sign of them, a major air and sea search was mounted.

The Dover lifeboat and crew were at sea for ten hours. Many other search and rescue assets were involved including the Coastguard tug 'Anglian Monarch', a spotter plane, two French and one Belgian helicopters, two French lifeboats and a French frigate. Walmer lifeboat was also launched to assist the Coasguard Rescue Teams doing a shoreline search.

The two missing passengers were eventually found at their home in Belgium. It transpired that instead of disembarking with the coach, they had left as foot passengers.