A rescue to far?

Colleagues down at Charmouth were called out yesterday to somebody who had built his own boat, set sail and got 400 metres before having to be rescued !

Members of the public called 999 when the amateur yacht man got into trouble, Coastguards and lifeboat crews proceeded and towed the "vessel" (if one can call it that???) to shore where some strong words of advice were given.

Visit

The Mayors and Mayoress of Dorset along with the High Sheriff of Dorset visited the station today for a talk and tour.

So preparation was the key to the event and above shows Eric taking the sun and drinking tea between the two groups.

Busy Day

Busy day down the station today.

First thing this morning a couple of the team had their medicals to ensure they were fit enough to be Coastguard Rescue Officers........thankfully no problems.

Terry and I then headed out on a patrol, lots of people about but thankfully no incidents.

Tonight was training, deputy blog forgot and thought we were having a secret meeting and then realised it was in fact training.
Tonight's training was communications, map reading and local knowledge. The team were given map references via radio and then they had to drive to that location and confirm what was found, like a telephone box. To ensure there was no cheating the team had to give the telephone box number or we followed them in another vehicle, the final test was for Dee to navigate from Wytch farm back to the view point using the map.......everyone got home safely.

Cleaning

Looks like Austen and Ian have been cleaning the station for the Dorset mayors visit on Wednesday. I think we have about 50 or so mayors popping down for tea and biscuits.

I bet they get the posh biscuits rather than the scratty budgens value biscuits the team get at training!

Hedging your bets on the Zig Zag Path

I can confirm that Terry definitely did not fall face first into a hedge yesterday afternoon at Zig Zag Path. At no point, whatsoever did he slip and end upsidedown in the undergrowth.

In fact I don’t know why I am writing this blog because it definitely did not happen....at all...ever.

Phew! Terry I think you got away with it..... ;-)

Helicopter

I was asked last night if the Coastguard Helicopters are affected with the current "Ash Cloud".

Speaking to the Operations Room this morning, the aircraft are restricted but each incident is looked at case by case by both the Coastguard and RCC Kinloss (the RAF oversee all rescue aircraft in the UK).

Already Rescue helicopters have flown seriously ill people around the country

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm?id=97341DEAB5856A34&m=4&y=2010

Search

When the team and vehicle go out and then return there is still work to be done.

Yesterdays incident involved the team searching around Old Harry for a male that Police were concerned for. Having searched for several hours the volunteer team confirmed they had searched the area along with the ILB crew and helicopter crew and nothing was found.

Later Police confirmed the male was safe and well in Poole.

As the call was during the day, the team members had been called away from work so they have to get back as quick as possible so its a case of put the equipment back but not very straight!

So this afternoon it was a case of hanging clothing back on the right pegs! Reload the trailer with everything as the lighting equipment was taken out and then all the paper work to go with the incident.

Read the incident in the station log, complete the CG12 then the teams CG13's.

Action

I take a day off yesterday and head up to London and just as I'm wondering around the science museum the phone starts ringing saying there is a search incident at Old Harry!

Sorry I'm not there today........

I will head up to the station to find out what happened.

Search

Wednesday afternoon and the team are paged to a search at Old Harry Rocks. A patrol was put out later to continue the search. At this stage due to operational security reasons we are unable to go into further detail.

Deer

Just before 19:00 and Deputy Blog and his missus were coming back from Coop when they were overtaken by the Coastguard Truck with trailer. Truck and trailer means cliff job so it was a quick but careful drive up to Durlston Country Park. On arrival it became apparent that a deer had fallen over the cliff and was in need of rescue. Austen and Tom started the search...it was their job after all.

After 20 minutes of searching using the cliff equipment nothing was found. Shortly thereafter the Sea Safari 2 (the boat who called the Coastguard initially) came to the base of the cliffs and pointed out where the deer had landed.

Austen decided it was a lifeboat job and the Swanage Inshore Rescue Boar (IRB) were requested and quickly on scene. After some tooing and throwing the deer, which was battered and bruised, was brought on board the IRB before a quick dash to Durlston Bay to release it in order that it might recover on its own.

See the deer, smiley Sam and the crew here...
http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=548

...and some clifftop shots also:-

http://purbeckfootprints.blogspot.com/2010/04/roe-deer-rescue-1.html

Thanks to the Sea Safari 2, Swanage IRB and Heather, Ian and Sue who lent a hand.

“So what sort of deer was it?” I hear you ask

... no idea.