Sun brings call-outs

This weekend saw the team called to seven incidents. 

On Saturday evening the first incident was to assist South Western Ambulance with a serious medical incident on the ferry road.  

Shortly after the first incident a member of the public reported someone in distress in the water off Studland beach. The team proceeded and carried out a search for the male who was quickly located in the dunes suffering another serious medical episode.  With the assistance of an ambulance crew and police the male was safely transported to hospital for treatment. 

On Sunday the patrol were  tasked to a report of a small boat hitting the chain ferry. On arrival it was confirmed the boat had been towed clear of the chain ferry and towed  back to Poole. The patrol were then tasked to Old Harry to search for an overdue jet ski whilst Kimmeridge Coastguard also on patrol attended the sea front to liaise with the family reporting the incident.  Shortly on arrival it was confirmed everyone was safe and turned up.  Finally due to the high fire risk the patrol were tasked to Shell Bay and a report of a large BBQ.  

Monday and with a strong easterly wind the team were tasked to check on the welfare of a small dinghy and its owner after it capsized off Studland beach.  Having confirmed the owner was safe the team assisted with the recovery of the boat back to Knoll beach.  This incident showed the importance of wearing a lifejacket even in shallow water as the owner fell out of the boat in the rough conditions. 

As the team were leaving Knoll beach a swimmer was seen struggling getting ashore and was checked in the slightly rough sea. 

See a Coastal emergency- 999 Coastguard 

Yacht towed into Poole Harbour

 

Today’s patrol monitored a yacht being towed by Poole Lifeboat this afternoon.  

The yacht has suffered a mechanical fault and then became becalmed close to the shipping channel.  Solent Coastguard requested the Lifeboat out on exercise to assist whilst the patrol who were close by monitored the situation. Once safely back in the harbour the patrol returned to station. 

Active Landslip

 The team were called to north of Sheps Hollow after a report of a landslip. 

On arrival the slip was still quite active with debris rolling on to the beach.  The team along with local Dorset Council rangers put up additional signage warning of the dangers. 

This is quite active still and at times due to the tide there could be a risk of being cut off.  Please stay clear of the base of the slip and ensure dogs and people don’t climb on any slip. 

The beach remains open at present. 

 In an emergency dial 999 and ask for Coastguard. 

Boat Fire

 Emergency Services were tasked to Arne just after 6pm this evening to multiple 999 calls to the Coastguard that a RIB was on fire. 

The Swanage team were returning from a previous incident and tasked  with both Poole RNLI lifeboats, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service  and Poole Harbour Commissioners 

The three on board the RIB had managed to get ashore and were picked back up by the lifeboat suffering from shock and cold. They were return to the Poole Lifeboat Station to be looked after. 

The RIB was monitored by the Coastguard for pollution , along with the Fire service and a vessel from Poole Harbour Commissioners. 

There was little left as the fire has burnt the hull down to the water line. The Harbour vessel monitored to ensure there was no further pollution and what remained would not cause a hazard to other vessels. 

With the fire on the vessel finally out the tide covered what remained.  The harbour commissioners will return tomorrow to check what remains of the burnt out hill.  There was no further signs of pollution. 

This was the second incident of the day for the team having dealt with a medical incident in Durlston Country Park.  

Training with HEMS

Tuesday evening was spent on the Cliffs at Old Harry practicing Rope Rescue and Joint Emergency services working. This week we were joined by Critical Care Paramedics and Doctors from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. This gave us the opportunity to show them our Rope Rescue Capabilities and to explain how our systems work and how, during an incident, we can deploy them to the bottom of the cliff on our Rope Rescue systems in an Accompanied Decent .

..this enables us to take untrained people over the cliff to the scene of an incident where they can provide potential life saving treatment.  It was a really enjoyable evening  training with the helicopter emergency medical service ( HEMS) where we discussed working together and different scenarios. 

No Parking at any time

 

For some , signage is just not applicable. 

Our patrol yesterday was checking access and routes in case of emergencies and located this car next to a sign saying “NO PARKING AT ANYTIME” 

These signs are there for a reason and makes access for residents and emergency services difficult. 

We left a note on the vehicle just to make sure they understood the problem. 

Awards Night

 

Last Friday the team finally got together to recognise some team members for long service and other commitments to HM Coastguard. 

The event had been postponed several times due to COVID and operational reasons but finally everyone got together to reflect on a combined service of eighty years for three team members. 

Station Officer Ian Brown (32 years service) and Steve Lacey ( 31 years service ) received long service awards whilst Eric Hudson received his 20 year long service medal. 

Kerry Jury was awarded a Chief Executives Health and Safety award for a critical change to a process in HM Coastguard rope rescue equipment. 

Copies of the recent RNLI letter for a rescue in Poole were presented  to the team members who attended the incident 

Finally the Swanage Coastguard Team member of the year presented in the memory of Mike ‘ Spike ‘ Williamson was awarded to our Senior Coastguard Operations Officer Allan Norman. Allan has supported the team through some difficult times and supports the team often without acknowledgement so the team turned the tables and awarded this special award to him for 2022 

The awards were presented by Tom Wright Area Commander for Dorset and Hampshire

Climber airlifted to safety

 A climber has been airlifted to safety after suffering a shoulder injury climbing to the west of Anvil Point. 

The incident started just after 14.30 on Wednesday 15th when two Coastguard Rescue Teams and both Swanage RNLI lifeboats  were tasked to the climber. 

Arriving on scene the lifeboat crew managed to get ashore in rough sea conditions and provided first aid.  Due to conditions it was deemed not safe to take the climber off  the base of cliffs by boat so a Coastguard was lowered over the cliff to consider if recovery by cliff was safe using a stretcher however due to several overhangs and the climbers injury it was deemed safer to request the Coastguard helicopter. 

Rescue 175 from Lee on Solent was tasked and airlifted the climber back to the top of the climber to waiting ambulance crews.  After an assessment the climber was released to make their own way to hospital. 

Teams , lifeboats and the helicopter were able to leave just after 18.00. 

A nights training

 

The team continued their training schedule this week with a casualty evacuation scenario on the beach. 

With a medical incident to start with the scenario developed to moving the “casualty” to a safe position and then back to the road. 

Coastal emergency - 999 Coastguard 

Coastguard Teams recognised for incident

 

Three Coastguard Teams were recognised last week at Poole RNLI Lifeboat station for a joint rescue last August. 

Swanage, Southbourne and Poole Coastguard teams were presented with a Lifeboat Operations Managers letter for exceptional service. 

“We are writing to express our thanks for your participation in a service call that saw a joint operation with Poole Lifeboat Station relief D-Class Marjorie Boneham, responding to a concern for welfare”. 

On the night of the 3rd August 2022 the teams, lifeboat and helicopter were tasked by Solent Coastguard to assist the ambulance service in the area of Hamworthy Park. 

Whilst undertaking a search the inshore lifeboat was directed by the Coastguard Rescue Team to a faint light, subsequently concluded to be the casualty’s phone.  During the transit the lifeboat saw a person in the water struggling and were able to bring them aboard and rapidly transit back to shore to the ambulance. 

This has subsequently been recognised by the RNLI as a life saved. 

This service is a great demonstration of outstanding teamwork of both afloat crew and shore-based agencies and is consistent with the overall professionalism and approach to your roles as Coastguard volunteers.