Stuck Climber Recovered on Sunday Night

The pagers sounded around 9.15pm on Sunday evening as the team was tasked to climber stuck at the bottom of the cliffs in the Boulder Ruckle area, several hundred metres West of the lighthouse.

Two climbers were involved, and the climber's buddy at the top had attempted to devise a number of solutions himself in order to try and recover his friend who, although totally uninjured, was unable to make his way out.  In the end he decided seek help and used the yellow 999 phone attached to the lighthouse to speak directly to HM Coastguard.  This telephone has no dial and on activation it rings immediately at the HM Coastguard National Maritime Operations Centre.

The team drove as near as was practical and walked in the rest of the way

The team, along with our flank colleagues from St Albans, soon met up with the buddy at the climb location having carried the rope rescue equipment some distance along the coast path and a cliff technician was deployed over the edge to get 'eyes on'.  By now it was dark, and unable to see the casualty and his surrounding terrain clearly, the Swanage Lifeboat was requested to attend to provide illumination and advice from below regarding the best route to approach.

Swanage Lifeboats illuminate the scene

Once on scene, it became clear that the casualty was much nearer the water line than had first been understood, and so it was agreed that the climber should be recovered from his position on a ledge at sea level onto the inshore lifeboat and from there to the Shannon for the journey back to Swanage.

The Coastguard Team remained in postion and monitored the second climber whilst he collected the pair's equipment together and made his way back to the cliff top.

Coastguard Teams stood by with rope rescue kit rigged and ready until the climber's buddy was safely back at the top

Once everyone was accounted for, the pair were reunited with each other and with their car and the team returned to station shortly before midnight.

Fallen Climber at Durlston

The team was called out on Saturday afternoon to attend to a fallen climber to the West of Anvil Point Lighthouse.  Our colleagues at St Albans Coastguard were also called to provide back-up.

On arrival, the team were met by SW Ambulance paramedics, and once the exact location had been confirmed the team set up its rope rescue equipment.  Within minutes, a paramedic was fitted with a harness and rigged up to one or our rope rescue technicians ready for an 'assisted descent' to the casualty.  Swanage ILB stood by, but the injured casualty had fallen onto rocks some distance above the sea level, and its crew were unable to climb up to him.

As the Coastguard technician and paramedic were about to descend, Rescue Helicopter 175 arrived from Lee on Solent and hovered above, surveying and assessing the scene.

With the helicopter in close proximity, the team stepped back from the cliff edge for safety reasons, and its winchman/paramedic was lowered to the casualty instead.  Once the winchman was safely down, the helicopter landed on the cliff top awaiting further instruction.  Meanwhile the team again stood by to take down an ambulance paramedic to assist.

After some time, the winchman confirmed that the casualty was now in a stretcher and he called the helicopter in to lift them both away from the scene and transport the fallen climber to the helicopter base from where he was transferred by road to hospital.

That done, the lifeboat and ambulances stood down whilst the Coastguard teams waited until the remainder of the climbing party had made its way safely to the top.  Everyone was checked for welfare, and assistance was provided to the climber's buddy to reunite him with his friend in hospital.

The opening few weeks of 2019 have seen the busiest start to a year for a long time with 11 taskings to date, including three this week and rope rescue incidents in January and February.

Climber Falls at Marmolatta Buttress

Just after midday, the Coastguard team along with both Swanage RNLI lifeboats and Rescue 106 were tasked to near Anvil Point.
The report was of a climber in difficulties and requesting urgent assistance.

The climber was on a climb below this photo but shows the area.
Rescue 106 assessing the scene. The Coastguard team set up the cliff equipment to provide cliff top safety, meanwhile the lifeboat crew had managed to get ashore and started to treat the climber.
  The helicopter crew winched the injured climber to Poole Hospital.
It appears a rock gave way which made the climber swing into a boulder injuring his chest but thankfully his safety equipment stopped him from hitting the ledge below.

Climber stuck at Anvil Point Swanage.

Just after 13.30, Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from the emergency phone at Anvil Point stating a climber was stuck at the base of the cliff.

Portland tasked the full Swanage Coastguard team, Rescue 106 from Portland and the St Albans Coastguard to support the possible rope operation.

On arrival at Anvil Point the Swanage team established the location and started to set up their equipment. Rescue 106 arrived and assessed the situation. With the Coastguard Rescue teams on standby the winch man was lowered and secured the climber.

Rescue 106 (The keen eyed will see this is Romeo Delta using the callsign, not Whiskey Bravo)

Having safely recovered the climber to the aircraft the Coastguard set up a landing site to allow the helicopter to land. The climber was dropped off and checked over by the team, before being taken to the Coastguard station to warm up.

Boulder Ruckle a warning to climbers

Storm damage to local sea cliffs.

It has been bought to our attention of a recent significant rockfall in the Marmolata area of the Boulder Ruckle.

A substantial sized boulder has fallen, affecting a climb called Tatra. The climb was graded at VS, but with most of the first pitch now no longer there, it has been up graded to an E1. The 'caravan sized' boulder that has come away may of also affected the start of the climbs either side of Tatra.

Climbers - it would pay to be very cautious around all coastal sea cliff this coming year, and assume there will be damage in other areas as a result of the recent big storms.
Please make sure you have the relevant experience and skill level to attempt any climbs on the more adventurous sea cliffs we have in our area. Where possible, leave your abseil rope in place as a possible means of retreat. Check local knowledge, and UKclimbing is also good for information.

Though if you do find yourself in difficulty raise the alarm and ask for the Coastguard. Please could we also ask, if you find any other local climbs have changed due to storm damage, to keep us informed, or let Durlston Country Park know of the changes. (and post the information on one of the climbing forums)

Climbers, Climbing Kit and Rock Shoes

We had a busy training session tonight when we were joined by our colleagues from St Albans.

 The main topic was led by John Norman, one of the Ops Room chaps and was a discussion on climbers, climbing techniques and climbing equipment so we are better placed to deal with these kinds of incidents as and when we need to.  John's an experienced climber himself and he brought lots of kit for us to look at and get a feel for.  Sadly, Roger took quite a shine for these yellow rock shoes and we couldnt get them off him.  Well, not the left one, he definitely liked the left one.

Prior to that we had done a refresher on some first aid basics - in this case a simulated spinal injury, including fitting a neck collar, transferring to a stretcher etc.

All in all a very useful couple of hours.  Our thanks to John for coming down and good to train with St Albans too and see some of the guys we don't see very often.

One quick check before we all go home and, oh hang on... yes...there's Roger still with his favourite shoe on.  Gotta give it back Roger.