Saturday 27 June 2009

When should you call the Coastguard?

Today I had a nice picnic up at Durlston (until the mist came in), however there was a purpose to the picnic and this was to return a friend to the scene of a little accident.

About a year ago my friend was walking with his family up by the western mile marker when he slipped and hurt his leg, whilst his son's were telling their mother the right thing to do "call seaside rescue!" the mother was adamant that he was OK and making a fuss and for sure they weren't calling anyone as she knew I would turn up!

Having made him walk back to the car at Durlston (just over a mile and up hill) they drove home in a lot of pain which continued until about two days later when giving up he visited a hospital to discover his leg was broken!!!

Several months later and being pushed around in a wheel chair for most of the summer he was finally back on his feet, and believe me, working with his wife I gave her some abuse for not calling us.

Well today and as a little secret we went back to Durlston as the memory was a little sore, the boys had a good look round the truck and even visited the lighthouse, but the icing on the cake was a fly past by Coastguard helicopter which I did claim was arranged (the aircraft had been training but couldn't resist rubbing it in that he could have been air lifted).

So the moral of the story is, just because you know who might rescue you, please call us if you hurt yourself, that's what we are here for.

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