Coastguard Teams recognised for incident

 

Three Coastguard Teams were recognised last week at Poole RNLI Lifeboat station for a joint rescue last August. 

Swanage, Southbourne and Poole Coastguard teams were presented with a Lifeboat Operations Managers letter for exceptional service. 

“We are writing to express our thanks for your participation in a service call that saw a joint operation with Poole Lifeboat Station relief D-Class Marjorie Boneham, responding to a concern for welfare”. 

On the night of the 3rd August 2022 the teams, lifeboat and helicopter were tasked by Solent Coastguard to assist the ambulance service in the area of Hamworthy Park. 

Whilst undertaking a search the inshore lifeboat was directed by the Coastguard Rescue Team to a faint light, subsequently concluded to be the casualty’s phone.  During the transit the lifeboat saw a person in the water struggling and were able to bring them aboard and rapidly transit back to shore to the ambulance. 

This has subsequently been recognised by the RNLI as a life saved. 

This service is a great demonstration of outstanding teamwork of both afloat crew and shore-based agencies and is consistent with the overall professionalism and approach to your roles as Coastguard volunteers. 

Penny the Spaniel

The Coastguard team have just returned from the first call out of the year after a report of a dog fallen at Old Harry Rocks

On arrival the owner reported the dog had fallen from the right side of Old Harry but swam round to the left side where she was sat at the base of the cliff. 

With the tide out the Coastguard team requested the launch of the Swanage Inshore Lifeboat as it would be safer than deploying a rope technician to the base of the cliff.

 

The Coastguard monitoring the situation from the top of the cliff  ensuring the public didn’t lean too far over the cliff to see what was was happening. 

The Coastguard team lowered the dogs collar and lead down the cliff to the lifeboat crew as often this helps calm the dog before being approached. 

The lifeboat crew approached Penny and soon safely recovered her to the boat for a short trip to South Beach and a reunite with her owner. 

Penny was a little cold and shocked after her ordeal and was being taken to a local vets to be checked after her 90ft fall. 

Please keep your dogs on leads near cliff edges.  In an emergency call 999 Coastguard. 

Recognition of Service

 

After many delays we finally caught up with two team members who retired from the team. 

Tom Simmons who had provided 18 years service , stepped down in September 2021 after being a very active member of the team.  

Nick Field the Deputy Station Officer stepped down in March 2022 after 11 years service again having been in the team and jointly running the team. 

Allan Norman Senior Coastguard Operations Officer paid tribute to both of them along with their families supports for many years of dedication and service. 

The team came to together to review their service and some of the lighter moments of them being on the team. 

We wish them both well in their retirement and adventures.

K

Sunday morning assessment

 This morning the team headed out for an assessment  under the direction of our Senior Coastguard Operation Officer. 

Due to the wet ground conditions we found a small area out of the wind to work in. 

The team were required to carry out a number of scenario with a number of emergency situations. 

A successful rope rescue assessment that we have on a regular basis to ensure our competence as a team .  We are pleased to say everyone passed after 4 hrs of assessments. 

Thank you

 

Today we say good bye to a very special place in Studland. 

Middle beach cafe closes today after 30 plus years to the community and visitors to the area. 

Parking at the middle beach cafe was ideal for the team to give them a good view from Old Harry to the training bank during a patrol, a refreshment stop and a central location to respond to incidents in and around Studland. 

The location of Middle Beach has a lot of Coastguard history with the old housing station and lookout just above this key location. 

We would like to say a massive thank you to the family for looking after us and allowing us to look after the visitors. 

You will all be sadly missed. 

Working with the Air Ambulance

 

The team were called twice yesterday to work with colleagues from the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and South Western Ambulance. 

The first call was to Peveril Point and a serious leg injury where assistance was given to provide a safe landing site  and then carry the patient to the helicopter.  

The second visit of the helicopter to Swanage was later that evening whilst some of the team were working at the station.  Seeing the aircraft land close to the station the team provided transport for the critical care team to the incident in north Swanage. 

Enjoy your walks but keep clear of the cliffs

 For those enjoying their Boxing Day walks, just a reminder that with recent weather the cliffs have become water logged. 

Please be careful at the base of cliffs and keep dogs away from climbing on any slips. 

Coastal Emergency- 999 Coastguard. 

Merry Christmas

 

We would like to wish the community of Swanage and visitors a Merry Christmas. 

The team remains available throughout the Christmas period. 

In a coastal emergency dial 999 “ Coastguard” 

Paddle Boarder rescues off Knoll Beach

 

Coastguard teams and a lifeboat were tasked to Knoll Beach this afternoon after several 999 calls were received reporting a paddle boarder in trouble. 

Poole RNLI lifeboat was tasked and guided the lifeboat to the paddle board who was struggling in a strong offshore wind. 

The lifeboat crew brought the person safely ashore at Studland to the waiting Coastguard teams. 

Climbing rope sparks search

 

The team were tasked to Anvil Point this evening to a report of a climbers rope left in position over the cliff

. 

With concern for a possible climber in distress the team were task to search the area.  Various areas of the cliff top were searched for equipment or people and with nothing found and light fading the team requested the assistance of the lifeboat to search the cliff face in case anyone was stuck and out of view from the Coastguard team. 

Both Swanage RNLI lifeboats were launched and searched from Tilly Whim to the west of Anvil Point. The rope appeared caught in the rocks below so the lifeboat crew released it so it could be recovered from above. 

With a search both at the top and bottom of the cliffs all search units were stood down. 

If any climbing equipment on coastal cliffs has to be left for any reason please contact the Coastguard.