Dog rescued at Old Harry

 

📟 #2 - At 13:35 today (02/01/2025) Swanage Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) were tasked to their second incident of 2025, supported by St Alban's CRT - dog over cliff on the coast path North of Old Harry Rocks. The owner did exactly the right thing by calling 999 and asking for the 

Arriving on scene the team quickly located the owner, Harley the spaniel fell 120 ft (over 35 metres) and was on the rocky beach below.

Due to accessibility and risk associated with putting a Coastguard Rope Technician over the cliff, the Office in Charge (OIC) requested assistance from Swanage RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) who would be able to, more safely, get Harley secure.

Whilst awaiting Swanage ILB, another Collie type dog narrowly avoided running off the cliff edge because they too were not on a lead, it was only the quick actions of Coastguard Officers present by grabbing the dog that prevented this.

Swanage ILB successfully collected Harley from the rocky beach and transported her to South Beach, Studland where her owners would be waiting.

Coastguard.

At this time, we do not believe Harley has suffered any major injuries from the fall, owners were encouraged to take Harley to a vets immediately.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind the public to keep dogs on leads near cliff edges, it only takes seconds for your family walk to end in disaster and even the most well behaved dog can become distracted by a scent or wildlife.

If the worst does happen, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard just like the owner of Harley did.

Multi agency incident at Studland

 Emergency services have been called this afternoon to near Jerrys point at Studland and a dog walker having slipped and broken their leg. 

Due to a high tide , South Western Ambulance requested assistance from the coastguard.  Due to the slippery conditions and location the team requested assistance from St Albans Coastguard and the Fire Service. 

Fire crews from Swanage, Wareham and Poole were sent to assist with the stretcher carry back to the ferry road. 

Just after 18.00 all units were returned to their stations. 

Missing Dog

 Just as the team had finished the remembrance parade and were enjoying a cup of tea , they were paged along with colleagues from Poole Coastguard and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue to a reported person and dog stuck  near to little sea at Studland 

Coastguard teams started searching and located a male and his dog in a wet area close to little sea. 

The male was assisted to firm land and taken to his car at Knoll Beach. 

The male out walking was looking for another dog that was heard barking.  Following the rescue both Coastguard and Fire searched the heath for the missing dog using thermal cameras but there has been no further sign of the dog. 

Anyone in the area of little sea is requested to take care as the ground conditions are very wet.  If the missing dog is sighted please do not put yourself at risk but to call 999 Coastguard/Fire. 

We Remembered them

 This morning , two of the team headed to a location on the shores of Poole harbour to remember nine American aircrew killed when their aircraft crashed returning from France. 

As the nation comes to a standstill tomorrow all those who perished in two World Wars will be remembered. 

Drone Pilot rescued on cliff

 

The Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams were tasked on Friday evening to a drone pilot stuck on the cliff near Ballard.  The pilot had been trying to retrieve two of his drones by climbing down on a rope and then was unable to get back up. 

The teams set up the equipment to secure the male before recovering him and his two drones safely to the top. 

Whilst drones are expensive never put yourself in danger trying to recover a crashed one on a cliff. 

#999coastguard 

Student Narrowly Escapes Serious Injury in Cliff Fall

 

This afternoon, emergency services, including the Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams, both Swanage RNLI lifeboats, Dorset Police, South Western Ambulance, and a Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Critical Care team, responded to an incident in Studland.

A 999 emergency call reported that a male  had fallen from the cliffs at Old Harry Rocks. Lifeboat crews arrived to find the young male being attended to by a local activity company. Remarkably, despite falling 60 feet, he had sustained only minor injuries.

The Coastguard teams, arrived  at Old Harry Rocks and Knoll Beach, ensured that no others were in danger and coordinated with the lifeboat at Knoll Beach. Due to the significant height of the fall, the ambulance service was requested, and the student was medically assessed.

Emergency crews were astonished by the absence of serious injuries. After a thorough evaluation, the student was released back to his group with some strong safety advice about his actions to return home 

We shall remember them

 It was an honour last night to lead the Swanage Coastguard Team to a location to the east of Corfe Castle where eighty years ago in 1944 a bomber returning from France tragically crashed and exploded with the loss of all nine crew members on board. 

The United States Army Air Force B-24H Liberator (28838) “Misery Agent” returned with a full payload as there was total cloud over the target area of Caen.  Sadly as it flew over Norden Farm the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed. 

We were  joined by local author of “Wartime Purbeck” Bob Bunyar  who had previously placed a wreath at this location. 

On the eightieth anniversary of D Day we took some time to remember this young air crew who were lost. 

The memorial made by Terry recording the names and service  numbers of the crew lost on the 6th June 1944 

A small simple memorial created by ‘Westie” to ensure the memory of the nine crew lives on. 

WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM 

Ernie the dog falls at Peveril

 Ernie the dog was out with his owner when suddenly he decided to explore  the cliff at Peveril Point. 

The cliff was about 60 ft high and Ernie was stuck down about 20ft when his owner called 999 for the Coastguard. 

Both Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams were tasked to investigate locating the dog stuck. Setting up the rope equipment the teams were about to deploy the rope technician when suddenly Ernie decided to come back up without the help of the Coastguard teams. 

Having thanked the Coastguard teams Ernie ( now on a lead) headed back to town with his owners. 

Ernie the dog returned after falling over the cliff. 

Ernie thanking the teams and discussing the importance of wearing a lead when near the cliff edge. 

In a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for Coastguard. 

Missing walker located safely in thick fog

The Coastguard team were tasked this evening to Ballard Down after a walker got disoriented in thick fog. 

Having  walked from Old Harry rocks darkness and the fog descended and knowing the risks of the cliff edge the walker called 999 and the Coastguard. 

The team deployed and started to search the area identified by used the phone data provided during the  emergency call. Shortly after searching the male was located safely, checked medically and taken back to his car in Studland. 

The whole incident from the initial call to the male being safely returned to his car was 55 minutes.  The walker did exactly the right thing, stopped and called for help.  

In a coastal emergency call 999 - Coastguard. 

 

Community Event