Nearly two incidents and finger problems

The IRT were tasked just after 5pm to assist South Western Ambulance at Corfe Castle.   Rescue 106 was also tasked but both the aircraft and IRT were stood down on route as the ambulance service had dealt with the incident.

Then the 1st Langton Cubs arrived on station at 7pm and asked all those difficult questions young children do......  We liked the question "How many MISSIONS do you get, we like this term and we think it should be used instead of the word "incident"

Having given them the safety brief, we then had a phone call from our Nick on the beach reporting someone had lost their dog on the beach.  Now normally dogs fall DOWN cliffs, however this one actually went up one!
Nick was concerned for the owners so called it in as the owners were going to follow the dog up the cliff.  Portland Coastguard assessed the situation and asked Nick to monitor the situation

So back to the cubs and their questions....."Whats that green thing on your belt" , that's a pager and oddly it went off !  Quickly grabbing the phone and watching the Cubs disappear out the station as they had been briefed, the Operations Room had a little apology that someone had pressed the wrong button.

Chased the Cubs back across the car park and back to those questions.  Thankfully I had a PACT meeting so left the group with Austen who was last seen tied up in the trailer whilst 20 Cubs got their ropes badge.

A quite weekend

The May Bank holiday is usually quite a busy one for the team, but not this year!  This year is certainly different to previous years and this may be down to the weather and economic situation.

Patrols have headed out all 3 days, Austen and Roger on Saturday to start with.  They came across a few walkers and checked the key locations of the patch. 
Lee and Ian headed out on Sunday and checked the various routes to Durlston and the western mile markers.  This patrol actually proved the value of patrols and the fact even after 22 years you can still learn things as Lee demonstrated a route to Durlston which was previously unknown!  Clearly many of the routes hadn't been used for sometime as the locks were stuck - or were until a spray of oil and a tap with a hammer!
Eric and Steve headed out today to check out Studland, however they were soon diverted to Old Harry after someone reported a small sailing boat in trouble.  Despite a good search, nothing further was seen and no further reports made.

The week ahead - a visit by the cubs , normally a lively night for us all.

Helicopters at Peveril

Taken by the Austen Rockett during the recent incident at Peveril Point.

Swanage Walking Festival

This weekend sees the last few days of the Swanage Walking Festival, a week long chance to get out and enjoy some of the history, heritage, flora and fauna around Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck.

There are a number of walks each day, each led by a volunteer guide and each with a different theme, distance and degree of exercise, and the good news is that over this closing weekend, there are still over 20 walks to choose from, including one on a boat!  I guess the idea is that you actually walk on and off the boat so it probably still counts.  Many routes include the chance to stop off at a tea shop on the way!

According to my sources the weather hasn't been the best this week, although I'm assured it's all been good and apparently in no way horrible.  Lets hope for some good weather for the last three days of the festival.

Remember if it is sunny pop on some suntan lotion, ...this lady didn't! ;-) ouchers.

Trapped

Our colleagues in Northumberland were kep busy last week with a 32-year old male who became trapped in a 3-metre hole whilst digging in the sand. 

Cant see the wood for the trees

Another view of the recent tree works

Feeding time at the zoo

The team always needs feeding and this was the scene after last Saturdays incident in the boat park. This was Roger's third trip to the table, whilst Nick just kept going round the table moving from the sandwiches to the puddings.  Tom thought he was out of the shot but clearly got caught with a sandwich in his hand.

Still........Austen's "milk only diet" is going well despite his protest.

Weather Warning

Another weather warning has been issued for Dorset - heavy rain until Tuesday afternoon.

Flooding is expected in places and judging by the large puddle in front of the station, care should be taken

Wild conditions at Studland

The scene at Studland yesterday morning whilst on patrol.  Look one single person out for a walk ! 

It was raining hard yet the movement of sand across the beach was huge, quite an unusual view. 

3 lucky people

Today patrol battled heavy rain and strong winds to check the patch.  Studland beach just had 5 people and 3 dogs out for a walk and thankfully there were no craft out on the water in poor conditions.

Whilst at the NCI lookout at Peveril Point, the two watch keepers and the patrol were surprised to see two small craft launch and start "wave jumping" in conditions which could be described as poor for such small craft.

The two craft moved into the bay so the mobile moved to keep them under observation and noticed one of the crafts break down and being towed back towards the boat park.   As the Coastguard arrived the swell picked up and to the horror of those watching, the broken down craft capsized throwing two people into the water.  The second craft also came close to being capsized and a request went to Portland Coastguard for immediate assistance as persons were in the water.

Both Coastguards put their water rescue equipment on (the 1st time in an emergency this equipment has been used)  and went to assist those in the water, thankfully both had surfaced close to beach and the second craft beached itself so everyone was accounted for.   With the help of some friends both boats were then recovered from the water.

Normally "words of advice" are given to the parties involved, but as one of them said "we were lucky" I think they realised for themselves.

Shall we just say - 3 lucky people.