Joint working

Yesterday morning (Sunday) a multi agency incident to search for a missing lady from Wareham resulted in a successful coordinated effort in locating her in very difficult terrain. 

The NPAS aircraft crew located the lady in a Reed bed landed and directed rescue teams to the location. 

Dorset Police, South Western Ambulance , DorSAR, Coastguard teams from Kimmeridge and Swanage, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, RNLI Poole worked together to successfully extract the lady from where she was found to the air Ambulance. 

Having been called at 09.25 the team returned to Swanage but were soon out again to a vessel aground at Studland beach. Thankfully on arrival everyone was confirmed safe and the vessel had been refloated. 

Three incidents at Old Harry then started when the patrols located people in very dangerous locations and despite warnings put themselves and others in danger. 

One of the incidents at Old Harry yesterday, involved the person thinking they were able to get to the beach.  A similar incident a short time later saw the whole team requested along with colleagues from St Albans Coastguard tasked to set up rope equipment as again the person was in a dangerous positions and could have fallen or got stuck.  

A further medical incident supporting the RNLI and ambulance , a bbq in a sensitive area , six people escorted from Tilly Whim caves , a further abandon vessel on Studland beach and concern for a kayaker saw the team finally return to station at 20.25 - eleven hours after the first call. 

Coastal Emergency 999 Coastguard  

Step back from the edge

 We continue to remind people to take care and not get to close to the edge of the cliff. 

Despite warnings and a recent incident where someone fell we continue to see people taking unnecessary risks to take photos or “just have a look” 

Stay back and away from cliff edges. 

In a coastal emergency 999 Coastguard. 

Walker airlifted to hospital

 This afternoon a walker had to be airlifted from above Dancing Ledge to Southampton. 

The Swanage Coastguard Team  and South Western Ambulance proceeded to the steep path between Dancing Ledge and Spyway farm to a walker who had slipped and rolled a distance back down the hill. 

Colleagues from St Albans Coastguard were also tasked to assist and due to a possible spinal injury the Rescue Helicopter from Lee on Solent also attended. 

The female was airlifted from the steep slope and after a further assessment was taken by the Coastguard helicopter to Southampton hospital. 

Rescue 175 lifting the casualty to a safer location to be further assessed. 

Don’t risk it

Despite recent warnings, the team had to stop training this week to prevent another serious accident. 

On Tuesday the team were rope training at Old Harry when two people were seen walking out on a very narrow path. The training was halted whilst a team member went to speak to the pair and ask them to come back. 

Is risking your safety for a photo worth it ? 

In a coastal emergency 999 Coastguard. 

Working with helicopters

 On Friday we were called to a climber with a dislocated knee. 

Working with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance crew and the crew of Rescue 175 based at Lee on Solent the climber was airlifted to Poole. 

Just a couple of photos to show the work these crew undertake. 

Climber airlifted to hospital

 The Swanage and St Albans Coastguard teams were tasked this afternoon to the western mile markers to a climber with a dislocated knee. 

The climber who had been climbing in the amphitheater area had been recovered to a ledge until the emergency services arrived. 

The Coastguard teams set up for a rope rescue but were hampered by thick undergrowth.  The air ambulance attended but with Rescue 175 on route departed to another incident. 

The Coaatguard helicopter arrived and lowered the winchman to the ledge providing medical treatment before airlifting the male to Poole. 

Stay away from the edge

 After the serious incident at Old Harry , the team continued training this week near to where the incident took place. 

The location of last weeks fall which shows how lucky the individual was falling from that height. 

The area the person fell from last week shows the dangers of getting to close to the edge. 

Washed up vessel

 

The team were tasked to Studland this afternoon to check a washed up vessel. 

It appeared the vessel may have broken its mooring in the recent strong winds. 

Ensuring no one had been on board and checking it was secure the team returned to station. 

Just a reminder that if you need to report a vessel or someone in trouble please call the Coastguard 999 rather than post it on social media. 

Two serious incidents

 Today’s patrol were tasked to Durlston this afternoon to support South Western Ambulance with a medical incident.   A search around Durlston Castle and Anvil Point was made before information was received the female casualty was a mile to the west. 

The Coastguard team proceeded around the town to gain vehicle access whilst two Paramedics proceeded on foot. 

The lady was located and given urgent treatment and due to her condition urgent air support was requested due to the location and distance from a road. 

Rescue 187 from St Athan was tasked to assist.  As the patrol waited a report was received that another incident happening at Old Harry Rocks. 

 A male was reported to have fallen over 90ft and was being treated by some passing kayakers.  The remaining Swanage Coastguard team members along with the St Albans Coastguard team, both Swanage RNLI lifeboats , South Western Ambulance and Air Ambulance proceeded. 

The teams arrived and managed the people on the top of the cliffs whilst the lifeboat crews provided further first aid.  The injured male was taken by lifeboat back to the lifeboat station to be met by further medical assistance. 

Meanwhile R187 arrived and airlifted the female to Poole hospital. 

R187 arriving on scene