So close to a tragedy

I make no apologies in copying the lifeboat blog today in the following entry, but what occurred on Sunday morning nearly cost two people their lives.

Drinking alcohol and taking to the water just don't mix, had it not been for the actions of a group of lads on the beach, the lifeboat crews and our Coastguard team, this area would have been in the news for the wrong reasons.

Bruce Lack, Watch Manager at Portland Coastguard said Drink and stupidity played major parts in this incident with the two young people in serious danger of losing their lives as a result. From taking a boat with no oars to having no life jackets or means of communication in the darkness in open sea is sheer madness fuelled by drink and bravado. We cannot stress enough how dangerous this kind of game can be, and that it is only at this time of year the sea is slightly warming, but not enough to put you beyond danger of severe hypothermia after prolonged immersion. The dulling of the senses by alcohol coupled with the cold shock of unexpectedly plunging into seawater can be a killer.

The people involved are now helping Police with their enquires, the dinghy they took and sank is still missing, lets hope they really did learn a lesson that night, maybe they might have the strength to come and thank their rescuers??

As I say time and time again, we live in a beautiful area, lets enjoy and remember it for the right reasons.

Finally apologies to the Swanage Lifeboat crew, as in my original report I stated another lifeboat went to this incident, never presume anything ! Sorry chaps as ever you did a great job.