Multi-Agency Working

The team was tasked on Saturday afternoon to assist SW Ambulance with an elderly lady that had slipped on some sloping ground at Durlston.

Suspecting a broken leg, the ambulance crew had requested Coastguard assistance to transfer the lady from the point where she'd slipped to the safety of the ambulance parked on the hardstanding.

Our friends from Dorset Police also attended, making a proper team effort.

We wish the lady a speedy recovery.

Search assistance

The team were tasked at 5.15 on Tuesday morning to assist Police with a search for a male at Durlston.

The search was expanded just before 8am with St Albans Coastguard , DORSAR and both Swanage RNLI Lifeboats.

Search teams were stood down around 9.30 when Police located the missing male in the town.

Holding Back the Waves

Well not quite,  but this incredible set of photos shows how the team huddle together to collectively wade through waves and swell which would otherwise knock a single person over.

On the nearside, the group has formed a 'wedge' to protect the casualty (in the light yellow with white helmet) from the power of the tide. The group on the far side have a floating stretcher and are ready to load the causalty aboard.

As you scroll through the photos, notice how the large wave breaks right over the group, but the stance they have adopted not only keeps the team upright, but protects the causalty from being swept away too.

Photos taken during our Water Rescue Training on Sunday.

Water Rescue Training

The team took advantage of a beautiful sunny morning and some choppy seas today to practice water rescue techniques in the breaking waves.

We used the 'wedge' and the 'huddle' to maintain stability in the swell and practiced causalty recovery by both floating stretcher and by rope following a tethered swim by the rescuer

After a really good morning's work, our SCOO gave us the good news that he had seen us demonstrate all the competencies required to revalidate the team in Water Rescue for three more years.

Thanks to Hellie Ridler for the photos.

Brian arrived

The patrol headed out this morning to monitor the high tide and the arrival of Brian.


Stone Quay


Studland - Knoll Beach


Anvil Point


Durlston Bay

Brian is on the way

The Met Office has issued a weather warning and named the storm 'Brian'

04:00 on Saturday until 23:59 on Saturday
A spell of strong southwesterly winds is expected. Some coastal routes and communities are likely to be affected by large waves, with potential for flooding of properties. Some transport disruption is likely across the warning area, with delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport. Short term loss of power and other services is also possible.

Restart a heart Day

Do you know what to do in an emergency?

Portuguese Man of War washed up

A number of objects which appear to be Portuguese Man of War jellyfish have been washed up at Ocean Bay this afternoon and we are advising swimmers and walkers - including pets being walked - to take care.

Large numbers of these have been appearing along the South Coast in recent weeks and today seems to be Swanage's turn.

The Portuguese Man of War has a very painful sting and potentially fatal venom.

More details here

The photos below were taken between Groynes 6 and 7 but please take care all along the beach.

 

On Patrol

Coastguards SW06 and SW07 photographed on patrol on Ballard Down this afternoon, courtesy of a passing cyclist.

Sunny Morning

It's a beautiful Autumn morning in Purbeck as these photos show - taken by Coastguard Austen at Studland earlier. 

If you're out and about on the Coast today, have a great day and stay safe.
Keep an eye on the tides and watch out for slippery footpaths if you're walking.

Pride of Britain

We thought we should share the good news that one of the team has reached the regional finals of ITV's Pride of Britain Award.

Station Officer Ian Brown was nominated earlier this year and is one of four finalist that will be featured this week on ITV Meridians News at 6pm.

The nomination by Peter Wakefield is for the voluntary work carried out in the last two years on the Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership

Working with four others at the start , the project set out to provide four Defibrillators in the community however it's slightly exceed expectations providing twenty devices thanks to the massive public support.

The partnership has grown and has nearly twenty volunteers assisting in maintaining and the education of their use in an emergency.

The programme will also feature Ian's other voluntary work in the Coastguard which has spanned 26 years of service.

Ian said " on behalf of the partnership and Coastguard I am very proud to have been nominated for such a special award.
I am very lucky to work with quite a few equally minded people who achieve so much in the community"

ITV Meridian News 6pm to 6.30pm

Coastguard team locate missing male

At 00.04 Solent Coastguard tasked the team to assist Dorset Police in a search for a male at Studland.

The male had been calling police stating he was lost and not feeling well but kept cutting his phone off.

The team arrived at Knoll Beach and carried out a search of the beach along with Police.
The Police helicopter and Police dog handler joined the search which had moved to the Chain Ferry area.

Both Poole RNLI lifeboats launched to search the shoreline around Shell Bay.

Just after 2am a Coastguard search team located the male close to the house boats at Shell Bay. The Coastguard left the male with the Police and returned to the station just before 3 am