Stand Down

The IRT (Initial Response Team) were called at 21:37 last night to search for a lady who had gone missing on a walk on Ballard Down. Given she was unfamiliar with the area, it was dark and the close proximity of cliffs the BURT (Back Up Response Team) was requested.

The decision to put out the full team was made following a conversation with the Watch Manager at Portland MRCC (who knows the local terrain well) and on this occasion Coastguard Oscar. In a search at night we prefer to task the team to reduce the risk to both us and the casualty.

The lady was soon found by the first informant and the team stood down on arrival at the Coastguard Rescue Station. Despite the stand down it showed that we could have put out an eight person search team within 10 minutes; I reckon that’s pretty good.

After some good natured abuse directed at Coastguard Oscar for calling everyone out only to be stood down, everyone returned home. Interestingly Eric turned up in shorts, no wonder he's so brown.... he even sunbathes at night!