Kayaker in Difficulty at Studland Beach

Saturday's patrol were at Knoll Beach when they noticed a kayaker in difficulty approx 100 metres offshore.  The individual had fallen off the sit-on kayak and was struggling to get back on board.  He'd also lost his paddle.

After a couple of attempts to get back on,the patrol immediately notified the National Maritime Operations Centre who paged the Swanage Inshore Lifeboat.  By the time the kayaker realised he was in danger and waved for help, the emergency response was already swinging into action.  The vehicle's blue lights were used to alert the casualty that he'd been spotted and that help was on its way.

The Coastguard team donned dry suits and called for back-up from the rest of the team in preparation for a water rescue.

When it was safe to do so, and when the kayaker was within range, Coastguard Steve waded out and rescued the kayaker and his vessel and brought them back to the beach and from there to the National Trust's First Aid room to recover and be checked over.

The kayak was brand new and it was the first time that the individual had been out.  Although he had taken the wise precaution of wearing a dry suit, he was mistakenly under the impression that this would act as a buoyancy aid - which it won't! 
For any beginner there's a whole host of safety advice , videos etc on the internet, such as this site here.  We'd recommend anyone to be sure what you are getting into.

Once the kayaker was warmed up and over the shock of what had happened, the team stood down and returned to base to clean down the kit.

Holding Back the Waves

Well not quite,  but this incredible set of photos shows how the team huddle together to collectively wade through waves and swell which would otherwise knock a single person over.

On the nearside, the group has formed a 'wedge' to protect the casualty (in the light yellow with white helmet) from the power of the tide. The group on the far side have a floating stretcher and are ready to load the causalty aboard.

As you scroll through the photos, notice how the large wave breaks right over the group, but the stance they have adopted not only keeps the team upright, but protects the causalty from being swept away too.

Photos taken during our Water Rescue Training on Sunday.

Water Rescue Training - Photos

This morning it was water rescue training......

An early start at the Coastguard Station for the volunteers - why anyone gives up their Sunday morning to jump in the sea in late October!?

Still at least we have drysuits.

Ready for action

Won't be smiling later.

Overseeing the action, our SCOO

Rugby World Cup training - also known as The Huddle.

Ok, that's far enough.

Team photo

Up the Creek Swan Brook

Kerry's turn at- Officer In Charge

He's behind you!

Tom on safety 

We were training right outside Brook Tea Rooms and Mike popped out to see if we'd like coffee. 

... suddenly bacon rolls appeared too!

Top man, thanks Mike, that was really generous and well received.

Rescuing Bacon Sarnies - Sponsored by .....

The Legend that is 'The Hudson'

Water Rescue Training

This weekend the team will be training in water rescue, hopefully the sea will be a bit rough and cold! I say that as I'm watching this weekend rather than taking part!

It's a bit like coasteering in a sense.

To ensure safety, the team check the weather conditions and the tide times before training; and then check again on the local conditions before we get in the water. A safe place is found to access, and more importantly a safe place to exit bearing in mind the rise and fall of the tide.

If it's too rough we simply don't train - there's no point putting people at risk.

A full drysuit and buoyancy aid is worn along with a helmet and gloves - the same basic kit that would normally be used for Coasteering.

We ensure that there are spotters (known as surface cover) to watch over us, with throw lines, again basic Coasteering techniques.

Roger on the Piddle

Slightly unusual incident last night when the team were requested to help Dorset Police with an incident on the river Piddle.

A small child's inflatable had been seen upturned near to the river bank and whilst the Police had searched the area they wanted the item recovered to ensure no one tried to recover it themselves.

A water rescue technician deployed and recovered the dinghy which was handed over to the Police.

Coastguard and lifeboat deal with grounded vessel

On arrival at the forward operating base , the team spotted a drifting vessel about to hit the banjo jetty.

The team immediately deployed to assist calling the NMOC.

Both Swanage RNLI lifeboats launched along with the Coastguard deploying for a possible water rescue.

The lifeboats arrived and quickly got the vessel under tow. The two on board the boat were surprised their anchor had dragged and with the weather pushed them ashore.

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.

Water Rescue Training put to the test

Our Senior Coastguard Operations Officer (SCOO) formally known as a Sector Manager aka Allan (wearing the white helmet) puts Tom and Nick to the test at Peveril Point.

Water Rescue training

Anyone near the pier this weekend will have seen 30 Coastguard Rescue Officers going through their water rescue training with Allan and Rob.




Kerry and Duncan about to go for a swim on Saturday.

Thank you to Dave at The Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Station for assisting us dry the equipment over the weekend, oddly in our old station at Peveril.

Water Rescue through the ages

Check out the lifejacket

Water Rescue Part 3

Having got Austen ashore, the next part was a practise around a structure (in this a small wooden one). Still no leaks in the suit

Water Rescue Part 2

Having got Austen into the suit, he was off ! At 1st he thought he could get out to the ship however there is only 40m of rope.

Water Rescue

Last nights training was "Water Rescue"......after some refresher work in the station it was off down the beach to get wet.

We don't actually get a dry suit for the real rescue work however for training we were allowed to borrow Rob's (Sector Managers) suit.

The 1st part of the training was, can you fit a DSO into the suit.

At this stage it did remind me of the Carnival Sumo race we entered a couple of years ago!