Team tasked to yacht aground

 The team had an early start yesterday ( Thursday) when a yacht grounded on Swanage beach. 

The person on board had made it ashore but the team attended to ensure their safety and check for an pollution. 

The yacht was made ready for a ref lost later in the evening which the team were going to attend however were tasked to another incident.  More on this in the next few days. 

Back to patrols

 So after a few manic months , the team have starting to get back to traditional ( if that is the new normal) patrols. 

So yesterday it was route checking and checking of a few gates to ensure we have good access. 

Not all our routes have tarmac to them 

Then you get a great view! 

Remember if you see something out to sea or on the coast 999 Coastguard. 

A yacht , injured knee and a head injury

 A busy Saturday for the team on the first day of the bank holiday. 

The first call came in 07.00 to a report of a yacht aground at Studland.  Poole lifeboat has also been tasked and took the vessel in tow back to its mooring at Shell bay. 

Poole lifeboat towing the yacht back through the harbour entrance yesterday in the shadow of one of the visiting cruise ships. 

The team were then tasked along with St Albans Coastguard and both Swanage RNLI lifeboats to Dancing Ledge with a person in the water with a knee injury. 

The lifeboat crew recovered the female and brought her back to the Swanage and transfer to the ambulance service. 

Having just returned for that incident the team were then tasked to near the lifeboat station and a male with a head injury who had fallen over on the coast path. 

Paddle-boarders Rescued

 

 Three paddle borders were rescued off Studland yesterday after the strong winds caught them out. 

Both Swanage RNLI Lifeboats, a training lifeboat and both Coastguard teams from Swanage and St Albans were tasked to search for the three. 

The mother and two children visiting the area had been on the water when the conditions blew them off shore sparking the rescue operation.  All were picked up and brought back to the lifeboat station at Swanage. 

Always check the conditions inshore and offshore. Ask at the local visitors centres about the conditions and the safe areas to participate in activities. 

In an emergency 999 Coastguard 

Are You Feeling Lucky....?

 Are you feeling lucky………… or would you be better off being prepared?

Paddleboarders, Kayakers and Sailboarders: it would help us and increase your chances of being rescued when afloat if you:

(1) Have a shore contact, who is aware or your plans, who will contact the Coastguard by calling 999 or 112 if you become overdue.

(2) Carry on your person a means of Calling for Help:

• A PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) `transmits a distress call, indicates your position and does not require a mobile phone signal.
• A mobile phone in a waterproof case, preferably with the SafeTrx app installed https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/safe-boating/keep-in-touch/Pages/safetrx.aspx
• Mobile phone signals can be unreliable in coastal and rural areas.

(3) And a visual means of indicating distress either:

• Orange smoke flare
• Red hand flare
• Or an EVDS (Electronic Visual Distress Flare), commonly known as a laser flare

You are strongly advised to mark your equipment and watercraft with contact details, if it is discovered we can check you are safe and it increases the chance of you recovering your lost equipment.

Remember:

Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid

Always carry a means of Calling For Help

Check the weather and tides

Have a shore contact

Social Media

 

First of all we apologise for the lack of blogs but this week has been very busy for us , but also for  most Coastguard teams in Dorset. 

We have noticed this week that reports of items washed up, concerns about people and possible incidents are being reported on social media but not via 999.    

Social media is not monitored routinely via the emergency services. 

If you find something or want to report something its really important that 999 is used - someone’s life could depend on it. 

Social media can be useful for appeals but don’t delay , make the call 999 Coastguard. 

 

Boat incident at Studland

 A multi agency response to a boat incident off Studland was launched this afternoon  at 4pm

Poole lifeboat, Rescue helicopter 175 , Dorset Police , Swanage Coastguard , South Western Ambulance and  a critical care team all responded after 3 people ended up in the water. One further person was still on the speed boat that came to an abrupt stop.   

The Coastguard team remained on shore to coordinate the response working with the ambulance and police whilst the helicopter , lifeboat and a couple of other vessels went to speed boat. 

One person had a spinal injury and another had a face injury were transported by lifeboat  to the north haven landing stage near to the chain ferry and met by the ambulance and coastguard team. 

Poole Coastguard were tasked to meet the speed boat in  Poole. 

Busiest Day

 Along with the whole of HM Coastguard , it was a very busy day with the team out for twelve hours. 

HM Coastguard dealt with 340 incidents around the UK which made it the busiest day on record. 

The day started for us  with concern for a double sit on Kayak off Old Harry. The patrol monitored that until it was safely back away from the tide race. 

It was then off to Tilly Whim Caves for a report of people inside the closed area. Searching the caves nothing was found. 

The patrol were then tasked to the beach by the Mowlem for a unconscious female and provided first aid until the ambulance arrived. This was further complicated when a further report of an unconscious person came in by the wellington clock tower.  The team split up and provided first aid until another ambulance arrived. 

The patrol were then tasked to Chapmans Pool for a female stung by something in the water. 

After a short break it was off to Studland for first aid to a badly cut hand and three incidents involving fires. 

Despite the warning signs people still choose to ignore the ban on BBQs and fires. 

Two large motor vessels had grounded at South Beach so advice was given especially as they were so close to rocks.

Finally after 12 hours the final call was a report of a jet ski floating near the Mowlem.  A check found it secure on a long line. 

Despite the signage and ban, people are still ignoring 

the risks of fire on the beaches.  

Just trying to get to the beach for us was a problem with a car blocking the emergency access. 

“Please keep access clear for Emergency vehicles” clearly isn’t applicable to some. 

Please respect our beaches

 It’s going to be another warm day. 

If you are heading to the beach please respect the local communities. 

Read and obey the signage. 

Respect others and follow socially distance rules.

Have a good and safe day. 

Take your rubbish home. 

3 kayakers rescued

Yesterday the team took part in a joint operation with many partner agencies to help reduce the number of incidents involving anti social behaviour on the water. 

During the afternoon the patrol spotted three people on kayaks that seemed to be struggling about 400 metres offshore at Studland. 

Having monitored the group for a while it was clear they were drifting out to sea and a lifeboat was requested. The group were monitored during this time until the lifeboat arrived and found them nearly 2 miles off shore. 

The group were brought ashore and it was established that they had lost their mobile phone in the water so had no means to ask for help. 

With everyone safely ashore and medically checked the lifeboat and Coastguard were released. 

Please stay safe, ensure you have the right clothing on and that your mobile phone is in a waterproof case and attached somehow. 

999 Coastguard