The first call was to Peveril Point and a serious leg injury where assistance was given to provide a safe landing site and then carry the patient to the helicopter.
The second visit of the helicopter to Swanage was later that evening whilst some of the team were working at the station. Seeing the aircraft land close to the station the team provided transport for the critical care team to the incident in north Swanage.
Please be careful at the base of cliffs and keep dogs away from climbing on any slips.
Coastal Emergency- 999 Coastguard.
The team remains available throughout the Christmas period.
In a coastal emergency dial 999 “ Coastguard”
Poole RNLI lifeboat was tasked and guided the lifeboat to the paddle board who was struggling in a strong offshore wind.
The lifeboat crew brought the person safely ashore at Studland to the waiting Coastguard teams.
With concern for a possible climber in distress the team were task to search the area. Various areas of the cliff top were searched for equipment or people and with nothing found and light fading the team requested the assistance of the lifeboat to search the cliff face in case anyone was stuck and out of view from the Coastguard team.
Both Swanage RNLI lifeboats were launched and searched from Tilly Whim to the west of Anvil Point. The rope appeared caught in the rocks below so the lifeboat crew released it so it could be recovered from above.
With a search both at the top and bottom of the cliffs all search units were stood down.
If any climbing equipment on coastal cliffs has to be left for any reason please contact the Coastguard.
The visit was slightly delayed whilst the team were tasked to Shell Bay and a swimmer hanging on to a channel marker. A passing yacht picked the swimmer up before transferring him to Poole Lifeboat and back ashore to the team.
Chris thanked the team for their work in the community this year and was given an overview of the incidents during the year.
A busy bank holiday weekend for the team with seven incidents along with patrols.
On Saturday the team were tasked to support Dorset Police with a search and medical support. During the incident the team had to split and divert to search for two paddle-boarders off Handfast Point.
Sunday’s patrol were flagged down at Knoll beach by someone reporting their children missing. Both the Swanage and St Albans teams were sent before the children were located safely. The Swanage team were then diverted to Peveril Point after three kayakers got into difficulties. The Swanage ILB had launched and along with a passing yacht recovered all three who were brought ashore with by the lifeboat. One of the kayakers required medical treatment having been in the water so colleagues from South Western Ambulance attended.
Monday patrol were tasked to Old Harry to a report of a catamaran capsized and drifting ashore. Swanage RNLI ILB launched to assist and both the full Coastguard teams from Swanage and St Albans were tasked. The lifeboat brought the two sailers ashore to the team before returning to recover the craft.
During this incident the patrol were retasked to the chain ferry to monitor a yacht caught on a fishing net whilst Poole Lifeboat attended.
The incident at Old Harry during Monday.
Having just got back to the station the team were again paged to a person fallen on the coast path under the wellington clock tower. On arriving some RNLI crew were treating the lady before the ambulance arrived.
Finally to end the weekend and whilst the team were at Old Harry , they had to speak to a number of people who continued to walk out on to a narrow ridge. This ridge is not a path and despite warnings people continue to walk out with a 90ft drop each side.
Coastal Emergency - 999 Coastguard
Both the Coastguard helicopter and the air ambulance attended the incident although the Coastguard helicopter which was on route to another incident was released.
Sunday’s patrol were made aware of a BBQ at Old Harry.
An area of burnt grass was located still warm with water used to further cool the ground.
Sadly after a major fire in the area only last week started by a BBQ it’s sad to see this still going on despite the signage.
Training last night with the crews of Swanage Fire Station.
Working together to deploy a rope technician and one of the fire crew down the cliff in a simulated incident of a person trapped down the cliff.
So a great week draws to a close and our thanks goes to the Swanage Carnival Committee.
Behind the scenes were the emergency services , Police , Ambulance , Fire and Coastguard.
For the Coastguard it was a busy week with Paddleboarders , an unexploded shell, a search , a yacht aground and some first aid.
Sadly colleagues from fire were missing from the photo as they were just returning from a fire near Corfe.
Coastguard and a Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team have this morning dealt with a unexploded wartime shell.
The item was located near to Middle Beach Studland and a cordon was put on to protect the public.
We would like to thank the National Trust , local businesses and the public for their assistance whilst the beach was closed for safety
Proud to lead this years Swanage Carnival after it was postponed for the last two years.
Sadly colleagues for Dorset and Wilts fire were called to an incident so the pressure was on us.
Joined by colleagues from St Albans we were taken back by the support from the public
Well done to Swanage Carnival Committee great to be back.
The team had an evening out on the town last week.
Ok so it wasn’t the usual evening out but under the guidance of our Senior Coastal Operations Officers it was a rope rescue exercise to continue to demonstrate our skills.
Today saw a joint operation between agencies to reduce incidents of anti social behaviour on the water.
During the patrol the Coastguard team spotted four paddle boarders in Shell Bay trying to get back to shore in a strong off shore breeze. With several commercial vessels leaving the harbour the four were drifting back towards the shipping lanes and potential danger.
Both Dorset Police marine section vessels returning to port were immediately requested to attend to provide assistance and get the four out of danger. The last person and board were recovered on to the police boat less than a minute before the commercial vessel passed.
The four were brought ashore and met by the team to ensure they were safe and given some safety advice on the dangers and safety equipment they should have had.
The patrol also dealt with a medical incident at South Beach, four inflatable kayakers monitored off Knoll Beach and assisted another kayaker at Shell Bay.
#Dorset Police Marine Policing team
#999 Coastguard
A large multi agency incident for a fallen climber started just before 1pm today at winspit.
A climber had fallen landing on their feet causing leg and possible spinal injuries.
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Coastguard teams from St Albans and Swanage , Dorset and Wilts Fire and Rescue , South Western Ambulance and Dorset Police attended.
Teams worked together to stretcher the climber to an ambulance and on to hospital.
Today saw the “CG19” or log book go into retirement.
These station log books have been used to record just about everything Coastguard teams do on station.
The history of these log books can probably be traced back through nearly two hundred years the Coastguard have existed.
Today teams have started to use the new electronic applications to record the activity on stations.
The team here training at Old Harry to put a rope technician over the cliff and then recover them.
#999 Coastguard
The patrol were just heading out yesterday when the Dorset and Somerset air ambulance started to land at Days Park.
Heading over to the field the team stood by whilst the aircraft landed and took the crew to the incident before returning to liaise with the pilots.
After the incident we were really proud to meet our colleague Chris who had been on the team some years ago.
Chris had always wanted to be on the air ambulance and we are super proud that he had achieved that dream.
Always proud to work with our friends from the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Having sent the photos of the object to a bomb disposal team, they requested a cordon be put in place until they arrived.
On arrival the Royal Navy team checked the item and removed it for safe disposal.
Having lost steerage they were in danger of drifting either onto the beach or on to the chain ferry.
The patrol arrived on scene to monitor and provide the operations room ( Solent Coastguard) with an update of what was happening. The yacht grounded on the beach just before the chain ferry.
Another yacht came to provide assistance along with the harbour master and then the Poole RNLI Lifeboat.
The lifeboat attached a tow line and managed to pull the vessel free taking it in tow back to Poole.
Local knowledge is a key skill in the Coastguard so when there is an emergency the team can respond quickly and safely.
Often some of the routes change and gate locks become stuck so as well as looking for potential incidents we have engaged with our partner agencies.
The above picture is at Studland and shows the usual track flooded and another route being found.
In a coastal emergency 999 Coastguard.
The team had a busy Saturday when the patrol were tasked to Ocean Bay and a report of two people fallen from a jet ski. Whilst the patrol were on route the rest of the team along with St Albans Coastguard and Swanage RNLI inshore lifeboat were paged to attend.
On arrival it was found the pair had safely made it ashore having capsized the craft. As they were being checked out another incident came in near to the stone quay of a person with a badly broke ankle.
Both Coastguard teams proceeded and the lifeboat and located a male on a nearby pontoon.
Treatment was given until the arrival of the air ambulance due to the nature of the injuries.
Prince Albert gardens was cleared to allow the air ambulance to land safely.
With everyone working together the male was stretchered to the aircraft and flown to Dorchester hospital.
A “bridge” describes a ridge of rocks and is less than half a metre across.
The chalk is deteriorating quite badly at the location and a slip or trip could end in disaster.
The patrol asked the group to come back and suggested a safer location to take photos.
We urge anyone visiting the coast to take care near cliff edges and not take risks trying to take photos in these locations.
In a coastal emergency 999 Coastguard.
Tasked to assist the ambulance service the team escorted the ambulance crew down to the incident just above the beach.
Whilst the ambulance crew were treating the casualty the Coastguard team looked at the options to evacuate the casualty safely from the location . Due to the terrain and the need to stretcher the casualty back to the ambulance , assistance was sought from the Swanage RNLI lifeboat crew.
On arrival the Coastguard and lifeboat crew worked together to safely transfer the casualty to the inshore lifeboat and then the larger lifeboat back to the slipway where again the ambulance continued their treatment.
The team were stood down and returned to station around 1am.
The call just before 2pm reported a climber fallen several metres receiving head and chest injuries.
The Coastguard teams assisted in the transfer of the climber to the aircraft supporting the aircrew.
As by chance one of aircrew paramedic “Chris” was on his first day on the helicopter and had previously served on the Coastguard team at Swanage. From all of your friends Chris we are so proud of your achievements.
The visitors to the area had travelled some distance following their trusted Sat Nav which directed them through a closed gate and into a field before they got stuck.
There is no public road to Old Harry and the land is private with a track which often has animals in the field.
Thankfully the local farmer came to the rescue and recovered the van to the road along with some strong advice.
One vehicle was the Swanage vehicle and the second was the officers vehicle.
The arch was over the doors became protected due to its historic importance and remains today hidden by the extension added.
Coastguard 200
A climber was rescued on Friday afternoon from the cliffs at Anvil Point.
The climber was approximately 10 feet down the cliff when an incident resulted in a severe leg injury. Coastguards from Swanage , St Albans and Kimmeridge along with the RNLI lifeboats from Swanage attended.
A Coastguard Rescue Officer descended the cliff and provided immediate casualty care before transferring the climber onto the rope rescue system and being lowered down together to the lower ledge and lifeboat crew .
The lifeboat brought the female casualty back to Swanage to be met by ambulance crews including from the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance which had landed at Prince Albert Gardens.
The air ambulance at Prince Albert Gardens before flying the female climber to hospital.
