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Showing posts from June, 2011

FAMILY RESCUED FROM CLIFFS AT CARSAIG

A family of four were rescued from the cliffs at Carsaig on the Isle of Mull this afternoon after the tide began coming in around them during a walk from Carsaig to Carsaig Arches.  The two adults and two 11-year-old children became stuck after trying to climb the cliffs to escape the incoming tide – with the woman having to climb back down the cliffs and go back to the nearest village to raise the alarm.   Clyde Coastguard received the 999 call from her at 3.35pm and sent the rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet, coastguard teams from the Ross of Mull and Craignure, and the Oban RNLI lifeboat to assist.  Due to the remote location of the incident, the helicopter was going to take 55 minutes to reach the family, and the lifeboat one hour.   At 4.13 pm, a kayaker contacted Clyde Coastguard to report that he had just assisted in the recovery of the three people back to the shore, and that the family were now continuing along the coastal path and did not require any further assistance.

THREE MEN IN A BOAT SAVED BY LIFEJACKETS

Three men were kept afloat by their lifejackets for an hour and a half last night off the coast of Bradwell after falling out of their 8ft angling boat – with the alarm raised when members of the public heard their cries for help from the shore. The three men, aged between 45 and 60, had boarded the small boat earlier in the evening to go angling on the river Blackwater.   However, when one of the men cast his rod into the water it capsized the boat and knocked all three into the water, leaving them gripping to the side of the boat and drifting on the out going tide.   At 10.00pm their cries for help yielded several 999 calls from members of the public to Thames Coastguard, who sent the rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham, requested the launch of the West Mersea RNLI lifeboat, and sent the Bradwell Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene.   At 10.20 pm the coastguard rescue team spotted the dinghy from the shoreline and the lifeboat picked the three men up and brought them back ashore, w

UNMANNED FISHING BOAT PROMPTS SEARCH FOR MISSING FISHERMAN

A search for a missing fisherman involving a coastguard helicopter, RNLI lifeboat and several local vessels was launched off the east coast of Unst this evening after a small creel boat was discovered with no-one on board. A member of the public contacted Shetland Coastguard at 8.44 pm to report that they had spotted the 26ft fishing boat ‘Kathleen’ offshore with the engine running, but seemingly no-one on board.   They had taken their own boat out to investigate the vessel and found no sign of the owner of the single-manned vessel, who had not laid any of the creel pots on board. Shetland Coastguard sent the coastguard rescue helicopter from Sumburgh to begin a search, along with requesting the launch of the Lerwick RNLI lifeboat.   Four local vessels are also assisting, with the Baltasound Coastguard Rescue Team performing a shoreline search. Shetland Coastguard Watch Manager Katrina Hampson said: “As well as coordinating the search and rescue resources on scene, we are currently

FIRE ON POWERBOAT AT PLYMOUTH SOUND

Brixham Coastguard sent a lifeboat, a coastguard rescue team and two fire crews to the aid of a 25ft powerboat off the Mountbatten Breakwater in Plymouth this afternoon after the skipper reported a fire in the vessel’s engine compartment. At 5.09 pm the skipper of the powerboat ‘Delta Flyer’ called Brixham Coastguard to report that he had spotted smoke coming out of the engine bay.   He had closed the engine compartment, located the fire extinguisher and he and his wife had both donned their lifejackets.   Brixham Coastguard passed some safety advice onto them (requesting that they shut down their engine and batteries as the boat had a petrol engine) and requested the launch of the Plymouth RNLI lifeboat, also sending the Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team to the quayside. Once on scene, the lifeboat towed the powerboat into Yacht Haven Quay in Clovelly Bay, where they were met by the coastguard rescue team and fire crews from Plymstock and Greenbank, who manned the fire-fighting boat ‘

TWO MEN SAVED BY PASSING ANGLING BOAT

Two men were pulled from the sea this morning by a passing angling boat after their boat sank without warning.   Humber coastguard received a 999 call at just before 9.00am from an angling boat. They told the coastguard that they had come across two men in the water about a mile off Hunt Cliff. When found, the men had been in the water for 90 minutes. They said their leisure boat had hit something and sank within 45 seconds. Only one of the men was wearing a lifejacket. Humber coastguard immediately sent Staithes Inshore Lifeboat and the RNLI lifeboat from Redcar to the scene. The Coastguard Rescue Teams from Staithes was sent to prepare for the arrival of the men back on shore and Skinningrove Coastguard Rescue Team was asked to monitor the incident from Hunt Cliff. North Yorkshire Ambulance Service was called to provide medical assistance to the men as they were showing signs of hypothermia. The two men were brought back to Staithes in a lifeboat from where they were transferred t

LIFEJACKET SAVES A LIFE

An elderly man’s life was saved this afternoon by his lifejacket after he fell from his yacht in to the water at Pembroke Ferry. Milford Haven coastguard was called at just after 4pm by the father of a 10 year old boy who had heard the elderly man calling for help. Milford Haven coastguard sent St. Govans Coastguard Rescue Team and an ambulance to the scene. When help reached him it transpired that the elderly man was trying to repair his pennant mooring when he fell backwards in to the water. His lifejacket inflated but although he was   100 metres from the shore he wasn’t a strong enough swimmer to swim against the tide back to the boat. He was in the water for around 30 minutes before the tide carried him in and he managed to scramble ashore.   Nigel Yelland, Watch Manager at Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre said: “The MCA recommends that recreational sailors should wear lifejackets at all times while on deck and this afternoon’s accident is a perfect example of w

MISSING SCALLOP DIVER FINS ASHORE

A scallop diver who was missing for around four hours was found safe and well this evening on the shore near Mupe Bay, Dorset four miles away from his last known location At just before 4pm this afternoon the vessel ‘Kindred Spirit’ called Portland coastguard to report that a diver had failed to surface with his buddy. They had been diving for scallops on the Lulworth Banks, three nautical miles southwest of Lulworth Cove. ‘Kindred Spirit’ had already been looking for him before raising the alarm. Portland coastguard sent the coastguard rescue helicopter based at Portland and Weymouth RNLI Lifeboats to the scene and Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to search from the shoreline. A number of vessels in the area, including the Dorset Police RHIB, responded to a mayday message broadcast by Portland coastguard asking for urgent help from other ships in the area. After an extensive search for the diver, who was wearing a black wetsuit and fins, the survey vessel ‘Discovery’ report

THREE RESCUED FROM YACHT IN BRISTOL CHANNEL

Three people were rescued from a yacht this afternoon after it ran aground on a sand bank in the Bristol Channel. The crew of seven metre yacht ‘Jeannie’ broadcast a mayday message asking for urgent help at just before 4.20pm this afternoon after their yacht ran aground and was being pounded by waves. Swansea Coastguard heard the mayday message and sent the RNLI Lifeboat from Penarth, the independent Portishead lifeboat and the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor to the scene.   Because of the yacht’s position the lifeboats couldn’t take the crew off the yacht and so the three crew were winched on to the helicopter. Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team prepared the helicopter landing site so the crew could be brought back to dry land. The lifeboat from Penarth will go back out to yacht at high tide tonight (9.30pm) to help refloat the yacht. Steve Jones, Watch Manager at Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre said: “Sand banks rapidly appear when the tide starts to flow out of the Br

HUMAN ELEMENT WINS SEA SAFETY AWARD

A consortium led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has won a Sa fety at Sea International Awards for ‘ The Human Element: a guide to human behaviour in the shipping industry’ This guide for the shipping industry was published in May 2010. It explains how human behaviour lies at the centre of both the profits and the losses of the shipping industry – and what companies can do about it. The awards recognise innovations in maritime safety equipment, systems, training, management and security. The Human Element won its award for in the Management and Operations category. Sir Alan Massey, who coincidently presented the award to Captain David Turner, head of the development project at the MCA said, “I am delighted that the work of my Human Element team at MCA has been recognised and celebrated in this way.   They have worked very hard to analyse and then publicise very widely their findings on this critical aspect of maritime safety. “More than 80% of all accidents at sea are

SEARCH ONGOING FOR 18-YEAR-OLD MISSING OFF MORAY COAST

A search for an 18-year-old young man, who is missing off the Moray coast is currently being coordinated by Aberdeen Coastguard. The 18-year-old and his two friends set off from Banff at about 11 -11.30 last night in a small fishing boat to go the short distance to Whitehills. On the way their small vessel flooded and they ended up in the water. All three started to swim for shore. When one of them reached land he ran to a local hotel and called the police who called Aberdeen Coastguard. The second of the three reached the shore shortly afterwards. Both were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia. None of them were wearing a lifejacket. Aberdeen Coastguard requested the Banff, Gardenstown, Portsoy and Buckie Coastguard Rescue Teams to begin a search of the shoreline and the Buckie and Macduff RNLI lifeboats to launch and also begin a search. The RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth was also scrambled. George Downie, Aberdeen Coastguard Watch Manager says: "We receiv

KAYAKER FOUND FOLLOWING MAJOR SEARCH

A kayaker, who was unaware of the major search being carried out for him, has been found, safe and well, off Appin. The alarm was raised, just before 3.00 pm, when the man’s partner reported to Clyde Coastguard that he had not arrived at Cuil Bay as expected. Clyde Coastguard asked the Fort William and Appin Coastguard Rescue Teams to begin a search, requested the Oban Lifeboat to launch and scrambled the RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth. About 40 minutes later, a man meeting the kayaker’s description was located by the Appin Coastguard Rescue Team and confirmed by the helicopter to be the missing man. During the search Clyde Coastguard had tried repeatedly to contact the kayaker both by VHF radio and by mobile phone, without success. The kayaker had apparently heard that there was a search ongoing, but had not realised that they were searching for him, despite the fact that the coastguard had asked for the kayaker by name. Calum Murray, Clyde Coastguard Watch Manager says: “We a

LIFEJACKET - WEARING FISHERMAN RESCUED FROM SEA

A fisherman who had been moving his boat when it was swamped and began to sink was rescued from the sea this evening near Sugar Loaf, off the Calf of Man. The Port Erin RNLI lifeboat crew were about to go out on exercise at 6.15 pm this evening,   when a man came to the door of their boathouse. He reported that his friend, who had been moving his boat to Port St Mary, had not returned as expected. The lifeboat launched and reported to Liverpool Coastguard that they were searching for the fisherman and his boat.   A short while later the boat was found by the lifeboat and the fisherman was quickly located about half a mile away. The man had drifted away from his boat but was wearing a lifejacket and had his whistle in his mouth so that he could attract the attention of the lifeboat crew. Ian Jackson, Liverpool Coastguard Watch Officer says: “The fisherman took some sensible safety precautions which mean that I am very happy to report that he is now safe and well. Firstly he was wearing

FOUR RECOVERED FROM RIVER

Press release: 164-11                                                          18 th June 2011 At 02.41 am, Brixham received a 999 call involving 6 people at Whitehouse Quay, River Fowey. The caller reported that a woman had entered the water and that three others had gone in to attempt to rescue her. St Austell coastguard rescue team were called out, Fowey RNLI lifeboat and inshore lifeboat were requested to launch, and a rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was scrambled, police and ambulance were also called to the incident. Fowey inshore lifeboat was quickly on scene with 4 persons reported in the water, a woman was recovered unconscious and landed ashore to awaiting ambulance crews, the other three were recovered by the lifeboats. After paramedic’s assessment, it was decided that helicopter evacuation was not required when the woman regained consciousness and the helicopter was stood down. The woman was taken to Treliske hospital by land ambulance and the others involved assessed

FISHERMAN LOST OVERBOARD

At 08.21 am, the FV About Time which is an under 15 metre registered FV which operates out of Milford Haven called on Channel 16 to report that he had lost a crewman.. There was three crew onboard and they had finished fishing and were heading back to Milford . One of the crewmen was determined to be missing one hour after being last seen by the other two crew. The fisherman, who was of Latvian origin, was not wearing a life jacket. Milford Haven MRCC initiated a mayday relay broadcast to secure any assistance from other vessels that may be in the immediate area. They called out Coastguard rescue teams from Dale and Broad Haven and requested the launch of Angle and St David’s RNLI lifeboats and inshore lifeboat. A rescue helicopter was also requested. A search has been undertaken today by these SAR units and fourteen other vessels of different types. The search has now been terminated. Nigel Yelland, Watch Manager, Milford Haven, said: An extensive search has been undertaken by

HM COASTGUARD RECOGNISED IN QUEENS BIRTHDAY HONOURS

Three people have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their work with Her Majesty’s Coastguard. Those honoured include a retired Coastguard Rescue Officer, a Deputy Station Officer and a retired Sector Manager. The longest serving Coastguard Rescue Officer, Charles Brian Patterson has been honoured with a MBE. Charles (known as Brian) who retired from the Holy Island Coastguard Rescue Team in March 2011, joined the Coastguard Rescue Service in 1959 when he was 16. He performed many roles during his 52 years including Station Officer. Brian said: “I’m very pleased and very proud. This was completely out of the blue.” Andy Roberts, who worked as a Coastguard Rescue Officer for 27 years, initially at Dover and retiring as Sector Manager for East Kent , has been awarded an MBE. During his working life Andy always went beyond ‘just doing the job’. Whilst juggling work and family he also found the time to be actively engaged in local schools, being Chief Governor and g

SICK PASSENGER AIRLIFTED FROM SHIP’S MOVING DECK BY COASTGUARD HELICOPTER

At 8.30 pm this evening, the cruise liner ‘Independence of the Seas’ called Portland Coastguard to report they had a very sick passenger on board in need of urgent evacuation. The passenger is wheelchair-bound with very little mobility and the ship’s captain reported that she was in a critical condition.   The coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled from Portland and flew out to intercept the cruise ship approximately 23 miles south of Portland Bill.   Additional complications were that the casualty and wheelchair were too heavy for the helicopter winch capability, and the ship’s helicopter landing pad too light for the six tonne all-up weight of the helicopter.   The helicopter winch-man was put on board the ship to assess the situation, and while doing so the rescue helicopter flew back to the airbase to take on more fuel. When the helicopter arrived back on scene at 10.16 pm, the passenger was ready for an airlift and the ship’s crew had cleared the decks of benches and other

DIVER RUSHED TO HOSPITAL FOLLOWING DIVING INCIDENT

A diver was rushed to hospital this afternoon after he went missing at the start of a diving expedition. A diving vessel contacted Forth Coastguard at just before 2.30 pm this afternoon to report that the man had gone into the water at the start of his dive off Methil, but that they had not seen bubbles rising as would be expected. The Coastguard requested the launch of the Kinghorn RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Anstruther inshore and all weather lifeboats. A nearby catamaran, which also had divers on board offered its assistance. Two divers from the catamaran went into the water and recovered the missing diver back to the surface. The unconscious diver was transferred onto the Kinghorn inshore lifeboat, which had a paramedic and oxygen on board, and was taken into Methil. In the meantime, Forth Coastguard had also requested the rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer to scramble. When the lifeboat arrived at Methil, a decision was made to transfer the diver onto the helicopter and take him

MISSING DIVER FOUND BY PASSING YACHT

A diver has been found in Start Bay, east of Salcombe by a passing yacht, an hour and a half after he was due to resurface. Brixham Coastguard received a 999 call from a small boat, which had been acting as a diving platform for a lone diver, at 11.20 am. The caller reported that the diver had been due to resurface an hour and a half previously, but that there had been no sign of him. A few minutes after the 999 call had been received a yacht, ‘Swift Bird’, reported that it had seen a diver on the surface of the water in Start Bay. Brixham Coastguard had already requested the Salcombe RNLI inshore lifeboat to launch and so the lifeboat was able to go directly to Start Bay and retrieve the diver from the water. The diver was then reunited with his dive boat which was off Hallsands. Dave Colmer, Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager says: “Speed is of the essence in searching for and rescuing people from the sea, so we recommend that as soon as you suspect that something is amiss at sea, you

WEAR SUITABLE FOOTWEAR ON COASTAL PATHS SAY COASTGUARD

A 17 year old youth from Pembroke Dock, who had been out fishing with a friend, was airlifted to Withybush Hospital , Haverfordwest earlier this afternoon. He had fallen on rocks while climbing out from a location between Barafundle Bay and Stackpole Quay.  He was treated for a suspected broken leg by Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics. Milford Haven Coastguard requested St Govan’s and Tenby Coastguard Rescue Teams to assist. The air ambulance was requested to evacuate the youth. Dave Miller, South Pembs Coastguard Sector Manager says: “With a spate of recent falls by walkers on the coast path and coastal area, coastguards are advising members of the public to wear suitable footwear, preferably with ankle support. Incident statistics show that the most frequent type of injury sustained on coastal paths is a fractured ankle, usually caused by unsuitable footwear for the terrain, and generally whilst going downhill.”

UK SHIP REGISTER UP TO 4TH PLACE ON PARIS MOU WHITE LIST

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency,   UK Ship Register is pleased to announce it has been ranked fourth in position on the Paris Memorandum of Understanding   2008-2010 White List. During the three year rolling reporting period 2,007 UK flagged vessels were inspected and only 25 detained (1.24%). The latest figures see the UK placed in the top five of the White List for an eleventh consecutive year and further demonstrates our continued commitment to quality.   Philip Naylor, Director of Maritime Services at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The continuing strong performance of the UK Flag is testament to the ongoing efforts of owners and our own MCA survey organisation to maintain and operate UK flag ships to the very highest standards. That in turn helps owners to trade freely with their ships, secure in the knowledge that UK flag ships enjoy the respect of Port State Authorities. Over the last year tonnage on the UK register has increased by over 1 million GT to sta

SCOUTS RESCUED AFTER GETTING CAUGHT OUT BY TIDE

                                                                                                                 Coastguards have rescued eight scouts, after they got caught out by the incoming tide whilst walking along the shoreline at Helford River at Mawnan Old Church , Falmouth , on wednesday evening. The alarm was raised by a member of the public who rang Falmouth Coastguard at 8.55 pm. Coastguard Rescue Officers from Falmouth and Porthoustock were sent to the scene with the South Cornwall Sector Manager and the Falmouth RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats were requested to launch.   Ian Guy, Watch Manager, Falmouth Coastguard, said: “We understand that eight scouts aged between 12 and 15 years old got themselves into difficulty when they were walking along the shoreline and the tide started to cut their path off. They decided to make their way up the steep slope which can be a little precarious due to the undergrowth and loose debris underfoot. Four scouts managed to ge

TWO CHILDREN FALL OUT OF TOY INFLATABLE BOAT

Two young children are safe and well after falling out of their toy inflatable boat off Lyme Regis this afternoon. Portland Coastguard received several emergency calls from members of the public just before 2:00 pm , informing them that two children had fallen out of a boat, and a woman was swimming out to them.   The boat was not tethered. Coastguard Rescue Officers from Lyme Regis were sent to the scene and the RNLI inshore Lyme Regis lifeboat was requested to launch. Tom Wright, Watch Officer, Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: “Whilst the units were en route, a further report was received that the woman and the two children had managed to make the shore safely.   The lifeboat was stood down but the coastguards continued in order to establish whether any medical assistance was required.   The children were found to be unharmed and they were all given safety advice. We would like to remind the public that inflatable toy boats can easily be blown out to sea; if

CANOEISTS AND WALKER RESCUED

The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Stornoway has airlifted an injured walker and a canoeist to hospital in Inverness after separate accidents today. The first call was taken at just after at 12 noon today when the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter was scrambled to help a female walker who had fallen 20 to 30 ft and injured her back on the coastal path between Ullapool and Achiltibuie, Wester Ross. The rescue helicopter lowered its winchman to the female and then airlifted four members of the Dundonnel Mountain Rescue Team to help the winchman secure her in a stretcher. As the female walker was being winched, Stornoway Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call reporting two canoeists in difficulties at the Summer Isles, Loch Broom, just seven miles from where the walker was injured. As this report was being taken the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Falmouth reported that they had picked up a distress alert from a Personal Locator Beacon in the same area. The rescue

GIRLS RESCUED FROM RIP TIDE

Two teenaged girls had to be rescued by lifeboat, from North Dock, Llanelli after they got into difficulty in a strong rip tide this evening. Swansea Coastguard received numerous 999 calls at 9.00 pm this evening requesting help for two girls who were in difficulty in the strong rip tides in the estuary. Four members of the public entered the water and one of them was able to reach the girls, aged 14 and 15 and assist them to a rock. Swansea Coastguard requested the Burryport RNLI lifeboat and the Loghour independent rescue boat to launch. The Loughour Coastguard Rescue Team was also sent to the scene to assist. The Burryport lifeboat retrieved the two girls from the rocks, along with the man and brought them to shore, where they were transferred to an ambulance which took all three to Prince Philip Hospital Llanelli. Will Parfitt, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager says: “The area around North Dock is notorious for its strong rip tides and there are plenty of signs in the area warni

COLLIE RESCUED FROM BOTTOM OF 100 FT CLIFFS

A working collie dog was rescued by lifeboat from cliffs at Portlethen this evening after falling 100 ft down a crevice in the cliffs. The dog had been working in the fields above the cliffs. A member of the public called Aberdeen Coastguard at 6.00 pm to report the dog’s predicament and request help. The owner of the 2 ½ year old dog, Zack, arrived on scene shortly afterwards and he and a colleague climbed down a cliff path in an effort to rescue the dog. Aberdeen Coastguard sent the Stonehaven Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene of the incident. When they arrived, they assessed the situation and advised that it would be better to bring a lifeboat into the bottom of the cliffs and retrieve the dog. Aberdeen inshore and all weather RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch. When they arrived on scene, one of the inshore lifeboat crewmembers managed to retrieve the dog from the cliffs and into the lifeboat. The dog’s owner was also rescued from the cliffs and taken to shore by the all we