Serious incidents with super low tide

With one of the lowest tides of the year the Swanage Coastguard team were tasked just after 5pm to a person stuck in mud on the shores of Poole Harbour.

A bait digger called 999 reporting he was stuck in the mud at Jerry's Point near the chain ferry.

The Poole Coastguard team were tasked being the area's mud rescue team along with the Swanage team. On route the Poole team were diverted to another person stuck in the mud in Poole so assistance was requested from colleagues from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.

The Swanage team arrived and deployed their water rescue equipment however due to the thick mud where unable to get near to the trapped male.

Swanage HM Coastguard Water Rescue Technicians on scene 

With the tide coming back in, and the light fading the team requested the Poole RNLI Lifeboats to standby.

The Fire Service arrived assisted by Swanage Fire Crews and deployed their team using inflatable rafts. The trapped male was soon released from the mud and brought ashore , cold and wet as the tide had come in. The male was checked by Ambulance and released shortly afterwards.

Water Rescue Technician ready to deploy

 

Dorset Fire and Rescue ready an Inflatable Pontoon

Dorset Fire and Rescue make their way out to the HM Coastguard Team

Photos: Chris Dragatis - Swanage HM Coastguard

Whilst the trapped male was being brought ashore the Swanage team were made aware of a further incident of four persons being cut off by the tide near Swanage.

Part of the team immediately deployed to search, backed up by the Poole Coastguard Team who had come over on the Ferry.

Both Swanage RNLI Lifeboats were launched to search and were joined by both Poole RNLI lifeboats searching from Poole to Durlston Head.

Thankfully one of the Swanage Lifeboats spotted the four people stuck on the landslip near to Old Harry having walked there at the very low tide.

With all persons accounted for, both Coastguard teams, all 4 lifeboats, Dorset Fire and Rescue and South Western Ambulance returned to station.

Tonight people are posting photos of the low tides on social media, we remind people to take care and not put themselves or others at risk.

A similar tide is expected tomorrow and it is not advisable to walk to Old Harry.

In a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.

Hey Look its Rid

Poole Coastguard (appear to have found a wolf)

There I was checking out the Poole Coastguard website and there is "our" Rid proudly holding his new radio. Nice to see you carry on the smart standards you were taught .

Poole Coastguard joins the network

Our colleagues to the north have set up a new web site to promote their work.

Poole Coastguard cover from Bournemouth Pier to Keysworth farm near Wareham.

One of the big differences between Poole and Swanage is they are a mud team along with the many calls they get to man the landing site for the helicopter.

Check out their site and look forward to seeing "Rid" arrive to continue his Coastguard career over the water.

That call out map looks very familiar?

Poole Pirates

Another driving course this week visited the station and must have included some pirates from Poole ! Clearly they felt the need to leave a note, thankfully they left the wheels on the truck.

Do not worry we have got our own back by sending them Rid !

The transfer market

The football transfer market is not the only "market" closing today.

After many months of official talks and a medical we have "Sold " Richard Curtis (aka Rid) to the Poole team. I regret to say the final fee remains a closely guarded secret but it did involve biscuits.

Four and a half years after joining, Rid is moving beyond them hills and with a very heavy heart we had to let him go. The good news is that he is allowed to stay in the Coastguard and will transfer to the Poole team and continue his service over the water.

Life over the Poole side is a little different to Swanage, they do not have many cliffs but plenty of mud. So on behalf of the team, thanks Rid and good luck with the move. We will miss your energy and enthusiasm. Who are we going to have to do all the running?

Poole Coastguard Team

The local team who I don't think get enough thanks is the Poole Coastguard Team.

Now these chaps not only deal with their own patch, but they cover the helicopter landing site at Whitecliffe close to Poole Hospital. Basically every time the helicopter is inbound they have to quickly make their way down to the landing site to clear the area for landing; they then assist with the casualty. I suppose its a bit of a 'run of the mill' job to keep repeating each time but at the end of the day a still an important one.

24/09/11 R104 about to lift across the water to be met by the Poole Coastguard Team.


Poole Team are our flank team to the north, that we often hear on the radio but rarely see. Whilst one of our specialisms is Cliff Rescue, they are the team that specialises in Mud Rescue - needed in Poole harbour.