LYME REGIS COASTGUARDS BUSY WITH COASTAL INCIDENTS

Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team and Portland Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre were busy with a lost child, a boy stuck in mud and a dog which had fallen over the cliff yesterday as the pleasant spring weather brought visitors out to the coast.

At 1.15 pm Dorset Police called Portland Coastguard to report that a 5-year-old girl, last seen on the beach, was missing from Charmouth. Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team officers, Lyme Regis RNLI inshore lifeboat and Dorset Police officers all searched for the child. After an intense search, the girl was found safe and well and returned to her grateful family.

Just as the Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team were returning home, Portland Coastguard received multiple 999 calls reporting that a 10-year-old boy was stuck up to his waist in mud near recent landslides close to Charmouth. There was some concern that adults were also risking becoming stuck in the mud as they tried to free him. The Coastguard team were joined by other colleagues from their team and used specialist mud rescue equipment to recover the child and pass him to waiting paramedics.

Whilst the boy was being rescued from the mud, Portland Coastguard received a separate 999 call reporting that a 3-year-old Labrador called Lola had just fallen over the cliff at Golden Cap, to the east of Charmouth, and was trapped on a ledge six metres down the 190 metre cliff. To prevent the owners
endangering themselves trying to reach the dog, West Bay Coastguard Rescue team were sent to recover Lola. Once Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team had completed their mud rescue they joined their colleagues at Golden Cap to co-operate with West Bay Coastguards in the successful recovery of Lola.

Allan Norman, Portland Coastguard Watch Manager says:

“Becoming stuck in mud at the beach can be very frightening, particularly for children. Of course, the best preventative measure is to avoid it, but if you do become stuck try not to move around too much as this can result in the suction taking an even firmer hold. Spread your weight as much as possible, remain as calm as you can and call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

“Keep your dog on the lead at the top of cliffs. If your dog does fall over a cliff, do not attempt self rescue. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

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