Happy Retirement

After 49 years of service , today is the last serving day for Station Officer John Bugler from St Albans Coastguard.

We would like to pay tribute to John and take a moment to say a big thank you for many years of friendship and advice.

At 23.59 tonight, John steps down and hands over to his son Ian.

Both team were tasked yesterday to a person with a possible broken ankle somewhere between Winspit and Seacombe. Despite looking for an hour a further call confirmed the injured person had managed to get to hospital for treatment.

Search at Old Harry

Several Coastguard teams were tasked on Friday to support Dorset Police with a high risk missing persons search.

The team were sent to search Old Harry whilst colleagues searched around Sandbanks.

The missing male from the Swanage area was not located around Old Harry and the search area moved more towards Bournemouth so Swanage team were stood down.

Good luck Bouncer

Today we say good bye to PCSO Iain Leslie aka Bouncer.

Iain has served the area for over 10 years and involved in many joint incidents.

So we take a moment and raise our glass with a massive thank you.

The good news is that’s he’s off to become a Police Officer so maybe he might be back one day.

Last night the team were on exercise and treated Iain to a bit of rope training.

Another week in the Coastguard world

The patrol headed out early yesterday to support the marathons being run along the Purbeck Coast.

Having seen about 500 competitors through Anvil Point they headed to Studland where they were flagged down to a person having chest pains.
With an Ambulance on the way they provided first aid until it arrived.

Earlier in the week the team were called to Dancing Ledge after some clothing was located on one of the ledges. Joined by colleagues from St Albans the area was searched but nothing further was located or anyone reported missing.

Two searches and a dislocated shoulder

A busy 48 hours for the team starting with a search on Wednesday evening at Studland for a concern of a female reported walking into the sea.

Joined by colleagues from the RNLI in Swanage, the team searched the beach whilst the two Lifeboats searched the training bank.

After searching for over an hour no one was located after reports the female was seen getting the chain ferry back to Sandbanks.




On Thursday afternoon the team were tasked to assist the Ambulance service under the Pines hotel with a 17 year old student who had dislocated their shoulder. Due to the location the team requested assistance from the Swanage RNLI inshore lifeboat to transport the casualty to a better location to meet the ambulance.




The team were again tasked around 8pm to a report of a female walking into the sea at Studland. The Coastguard were joined in the search by both Poole Lifeboats , Dorset Police and the Coastguard helicopter. The description of the lady matched the lady from the previous night but no one had seen her come back out or get back on the ferry. Search assets searched from the chain ferry to South beach for nearly 3 hours before the lady was located safe and well returning on the chain ferry by one of the Coastguard teams.

Call 999 rather than post on social media

Whilst we live in a modern era with social media , please remember that the only official way to get the Coastguard is to dial 999.


This morning ‘a Post ‘ about a boat washed up was seen by an off duty team member who contacted the Coastguard Operations Centre.

The team were sent to make enquiries in case anyone was missing. Thankfully it was soon established the boat had come off mooring.

Don’t delay - always call 999, someone’s life could be at risk