The Coastguard Pose

A year or so ago, Brian used to moan that his profile photo on the main website was, well, a bit camp. And to be fair, it was. So we replaced it with one of him looking dead hard.

Well, now it seems I have got in on the 'camp photo' look.

Kindly snapped by the team at yesterday's incident, it shows me working hard, holding the rocks down with my left leg in case the draught from the helicopter above should blow them away. I think I'm doing a good job. Everyone else says it looks camp. You decide...

Climber swept off ledge

The Swanage Coastguard team, Rescue 106 , Both Swanage RNLI lifeboats and the St Albans Coastguard were tasked to an area called Cattle Troughs after a climber was swept off a ledge by a huge wave.

Portland Coastland received a 999 call from the emergency phone at Anvil Point at 15.00 saying a climber had fallen.

Rescuers arrived to find the climber had been pulled from the water by a group of climbers near by. The winch man from Rescue 106 was lowered to treated the male whilst Coastguard Rescue Officers stood by at the top of cliffs and both lifeboats covered below.

The male was flown to Dorchester County Hospital for treatment. The Coastguard and lifeboats remained on scene until the other climber made it safely to the top of the cliffs.

It appears the climber was about to start to climb back up the cliff when a large wave swept him off his feet and down the ledge he was standing on.

All units returned to station at 17.30.

Cylinder washed up on the beach

Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a gas cylinder washed up at the north end of the beach.

On arrival the coastguard team assessed the item and moved a few people away to ensure their safety.

Dorset Fire and Rescue attended as gas cylinders fall under their remit and requested a 200 metre cordon.

Dorset Police assisted by taking over the cordons and discussions were then started with the local authority regarding the safe disposal of the cylinder.







Following recent storms many items are being washed up on the beach. Never touch them even if you think you know what the item may be

Phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Slippery Surface

The team were called to assist the Ambulance service near to the Wellington Tower by the boat park.

A walker has slipped on footpath which has become very slippery with sea weed.

The team assisted to carry the male to the ambulance along with several off duty lifeboat crew.

Not all Shells should be collected

After the recent storms, you may find things like this on the beach

On Further Reflection....

We had a concern recently that our kit wasn't as visible at night as it should be, so at kit night last night we decided to conduct a controlled scientific experiment.

Under laboratory conditions, we reduced the ambient light to zero (ie turned the lights off) and using an electronic image capture device (the camera-phone on a Blackberry Curve 9360) we took the following photo. The results have been sent away for analysis, but early indications are that the reflective strips on the kit seem to do their job quite well. The reflective stripes on our overalls and safety helmets have also reacted and so has the reflective sign writing on our vehicle.

Another totally unexpected side-effect was even covered on the BBC News Website

In other news, we have been given some new kit including this snazzy 'Officer In Charge' tabard featuring a variety of colours, unlike the all-over fluorescent yellow design which was SO last year.  And guess what.....it reflects too.



Hmmmm......I wonder if ordering a Large was a mistake.....



Peveril Point

A check was made from Peveril Point to Anvil Point today.

Several areas have had landslips and checking the area helps us in assessing risks if an incident happens in these areas.

Items washed up

Recent storms have seen items washed up on the beach and people thinking they are entitled to keep those items.

Recently a container washed ashore in Devon

Taking items from the beach and not declaring them , could see you break the law.
In some cases you could create an offence actually removing the item from the beach - basically someone still owns that item and taking it could be seen as theft.

An example to us all.....

New Sea Defences at Swanage

After the success of Coastguard Alpha's sandbag wall the other evening that saved the town from disaster, other coastguards in the team are having a go at shoring up the sea defences in preparation for any future storms.

Ham Sandwich

Here's Roger, 'ham sandwiching it up' at a buffet.

He always overdresses for buffets......but I suppose someone has to set the standard.