Out on the Water? Be Prepared

These two kayaks were recovered by Swanage's inshore lifeboat (ILB) yesterday and towed back to Swanage after their owners got into difficulty in choppy seas off Studland. 

 

What had seemed calm waters in the confines of the bay were suddenly very different in the shallower waters close to Old Harry and before long the kayakers were struggling in the conditions.  They had no VHF radio and no mobile phone (phones aren't ideal at sea because of limited reception, but one in a sealed bag is better than nothing) and they were fortunate that someone on the cliff had seen their calls for help.  The pair were dressed in inadequate clothing and once wet, soon got cold with the keen wind.  Finally, they wore no lifejackets or buoyancy aids.

On arrival at Swanage, the couple were taken into the care of the Coastguard team where they were warmed up and offered some safety advice, before being returned to their vehicle to dry off and reflect how differently their afternoon could have ended up.

The RNLI has produced a handy safety guide for kayakers - we suggest you download and read it if you own a kayak or have the use of one. Get your copy here: RNLI Kayak Safety Guide.

And always consider the following

•             CARRY a communication device in an easily accessible waterproof pocket/pouch
•             WEAR proper kit to keep you warm and afloat in the water
•             CARRY spare clothing, food and drink in a dry bag
•             CHECK the weather and water conditions before heading out
•             WEAR a buoyancy aid or lifejacket
•             CARRY on your person distress flares
•             TELL a responsible shore contact where you are going and when you will return.

Enjoy the water and keep safe!

 

#999Coastguard

Sinking Jet-ski

The team were tasked last night to a jet ski which had broken down off Old Harry and which was starting to sink.

The rider who had been in the sea for approximately 30 minutes attracted the attention of a group of picnickers on the top of the cliff who called for help.

Swanage ILB was launched and the coastguard team monitored the rescue from above as well as checking the welfare of the picnickers who were potentially distressed at what they had seen.

The ILB crew tried to tow the jet ski back to its hire base in Salterns Marina in Poole but it was steadily taking on water and so a decision was made to take it into Knoll Beach where it and it's rider were handed over to the care of the coastguard team.  Whilst we looked after the rider and got him warmed up, we also liaised with the owners, arranged for them to collect the jet ski from the beach and oversaw the removal operation.

Sadly, it appears the jet ski rider was equipped with a VHF radio, but didn't know how to use it in an emergency. Fortunately for him that the picnickers managed to spot him before it was too late.

Beau survives 90ft fall from Old Harry

This is Beau, safely returned to her owners by Coastguards and ILB crew at South Beach Studland this morning.
The one year spaniel was out walking with her owners at Old Harry Rocks when she shot off to chase the sea gulls and fell over the cliff.
Thankfully the tide was in and she fell the 90ft into the water and was spotted by a local fishing boat.
Swanage ILB was launched and the Coastguard IRT dispatched to meet the owner on the cliff top.
A well practised routine swung into action with the ILB crew picking the dog up, the Coastguard picking the owners up and all were reunited at Joe's Cafe over a nice mug of tea.
With many people out enjoying the sunshine, please keep dogs on leads near the cliff.

Swanage Lifeboat Week 2012

http://www.swanagelifeboatweek.org.uk

Don't drink and drown.

Enjoy a drink? It's clear from the blog below that Eric does! He was celebrating a week of hard work he has put in to the Carnival this year (and every year!) - his wife took him home and made sure that he was tucked up in bed soon after.

Sadly two other people who had been out drinking took other courses of action. The IRT had to respond to two separate incidents at 01:45 and 02:40 this morning.

CROs - Patrick and Kitching - callsigns Hotel and Oscar - were firstly called to a distressed lady who was in the water off Swanage Pier. Two Policeman had taken immediate action and commandeered a boat, one ended up in the water pulling her to safety. Frankly if they hadn't intervened I doubt she would have survived; in this case it was a risk worth taking. The Swanage ILB responded and brought everyone back to the lifeboat house where the lady was taken on by South-West Ambulance. The Police helicopter was brought in for support. (I saw the Police getting a lot of verbal abuse from drunks last night, but ultimately they are there for law and order, and public safety - as this incident demonstrated)

The second incident saw a very drunk gentleman who, we were told could not swim, rowing out to a yacht in Swanage Bay with two friends, it was dark and they had no lifejackets. The report was that he had stolen the boat. Swanage Coastguard IRT were dispatched and requested the Swanage ILB to attend. After a brief search the gentleman was found aboard a yacht - given how intoxicated he was the ILB crew decided it would be wise to bring him ashore, rather than let him row ashore later. On landing he was apologetic which ultimately saved him a night in the Police cells, which would not have done his future career any good. The boat was found not to have been stolen.

If only he knew how much danger he put himself in. 

Sadly his friends thought it was funny and were taking photos for Facebook. As a 'local' perhaps this morning he might like to consider presenting himself to the Lifeboat house with a donation to refund their hard work or, perhaps volunteer some time towards Swanage lifeboat week which starts next Saturday.

The money raised helps ensure our lifeboat crews are able to respond to incidents such as this.

Swanage Cliff Rescue Team Deployed

Swanage Coastguard were 'Team paged' today for a person last seen on the edge of the cliff up on The Downs above Peveril Point.

A lady in a pink top was sat on the edge of the cliff and was unresponsive when a Swanage Town Council groundsman asked if everything was ok; he returned one minute later and the lady was gone - he called 999 and asked for the Coastguard.

Cliff Rescue Team ready to deploy again.

The team were on scene in 6 minutes and deployed a cliff rescue technician to ascertain whether the lady could be seen. Due to the nature of the cliffs and a number of blind spots the Swanage RNLI Inshore boat was asked to attend and put two of their crew ashore - another quick response from them.

Other rescue assets in the area were deployed including Maritime Coastguard Agency Boat - MCA Osprey along with Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 104 which was in the Weymouth area transiting back to Lee on Solent. A full search was undertaken.

Coastguard R106,  MCA Osprey and Swanage ILB (RNLI)

Although the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team was stood down with nothing found - the initial information given was with good intent and matched what the team saw on the ground - lots of broken grass and slip marks including what appeared to be more marks half way down the cliff. Very odd.

The cliffs are a lot steeper than many people think!
(Photo:- Coastguard Oscar - during training last year)

Thanks to our local Portland MRCC for co-ordinating the rescue again!

Serious Incidents off Studland

With the fine weather it was not going to be long before the pagers went off and just after 4pm a report came in off 3 Kayaks in trouble off Old Harry Rocks.  Swanage Lifeboats, ILB , Rescue 106 and the IRT proceeded as best speed.

Thankfully the 3 had been picked up by passing boats so the helicopter was stood down on arrrival at Swanage and the Lifeboat and ILB  after checking all was in order returned to station.

The IRT met the 3 on the beach to take their details and check their welfare.  Condtions off Old Harrry were rough and had been to much for them.  Thankfully they were well equiped with lifejackets but had forgotten their VHF radio - a mobile phone had been used to raise the alarm and they were lucky it worked in that location.

Having finished that incident, the IRT liaised with the National Trust and found they had been busy with two medical emergencies on the beach......we then got an immediate call from Portland coastguard asking us to proceed to North end of Studland Beach, a yacht was coming ashore in the surf.

We arrived to find a 33ft yacht aground in heavy surf and concern for the single male on board.  Both
Swanage Lifeboats were launched again with the ILB arriving 1st.

The ILB crew did an outstanding job and actually got the yacht off, unfortunatley the yachts engine was in gear and had a damaged rudder - this resulted in the yacht turning 180 degrees and grounding again but broadside.

The male on board had decided to get off at this stage and came ashore to the IRT on the beach.  The Swanage Lifeboat arrived and again with some excellent skill got the yacht off, towing it to deeper water to be checked.  Thankfully no damage other than the rudder so it was towed to Poole.

But the incident did not quite end there......the male on board then became unwell so had to require some medical treatment.  Having had that, he had a short trip to Shell Bay and a lift via Poole ILB back to his yacht.  Poole ILB then took over the tow from Swanage for the final stages of the incident.

Thankfully thanks to the skill of a few, today's incidents have all ended without serious injury.

Dog falls from Old Harry

Swanage Coastguard IRT were tasked at 15.00 along with the crew of the Swanage ILB to "Bobby" who had chased a seagull and fallen about 90ft.

Fearing the worse the owners from Poole quickly dialled 999 and asked the Coastguard for assistance. 17 minutes later Coastguards and lifeboat crew turned up to find the dog in shock and a broken paw.

The ILB crew brought the dog ashore at South Beach to the waiting Coastguard team and owners. The dog was taken to the vets in Swanage but due to the broken paw and advice from the vet the dog was transferred to the main vets in Wareham.

The owners were very grateful to both the Coastguard and the RNLI, where else in the World would you receive such swift service from volunteers?

As usual we would like to remind owners of dog to keep them on leads when on cliffs, the owners today confirmed they had just taken 'Bobby' off the lead and turned their backs for a minute when he disappeared.

The Swanage Lifeboat crew have just released their video

Lifeboat AGM

Last night Austen and I represented the Coastguard at the Swanage Lifeboat Supporters and Guild AGM at the Pines Hotel.

We heard about the fundraising efforts during the year, reports from the Operations Manager, Coxswain, Press Officer and an excellent talk about the new future boat which will be on station around 2015.

Good effort by a lot of people.....keep up the good work

Boats

Both Swanage Lifeboats during the training session a couple of weeks ago.

Swanage Lifeboat ILB

A quick tasking yesterday to support Swanage Lifeboat ILB (Inshore LifeBoat); to be fair we only provided a watch over them and took details; well done lifeboat team.

Photo: Swanage ILB in Action
(http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/)