HM Coastguard

Yesterday (Wednesday 26 April) at around 11.40am a member of the public made a 999 call to the Coastguard reporting a large sinkhole at the western side of Orcombe Point, Exmouth. There were reports that a member of the public had rescued a child that had fallen into the 1.2m x 1.2m sinkhole.  The child was uninjured. Exmouth Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to the scene immediately and cordoned off the area and have urged the public to stay clear of this area to let the East Devon District Council and emergency service make the area safe.  Remember, if you see anyone in difficulty call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Just after 8pm last night UK Coastguard were called with reports of a Kite Surfer in difficulties in Bideford Bay. Bideford and Croyde Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRT’s) were tasked along with both Appledore Lifeboats and the Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from St Athan. The casualty was spotted by a Coastguard and recovered safe and well by the all-weather lifeboat, and transferred into the care of South Western Ambulance Service. Ian Guy, Maritime Operations Controller said: 'This was extremely good outcome and an excellent example of some great teamwork between our crews. The casualty was located in our search area quickly and thankfully, although cold he was ok. We recommend when kite surfing that you always ensure that you wear the right gear - including a buoyancy aid and a helmet, check the weather forecasts, tell someone your passage plan and practice rescue signals with your instructor in case the worst should happen.'

UPDATE: They have been found, safe and well. UK Coastguard is currently coordinating a search for 2 missing people on the Isle of Wight, who were last seen yesterday morning (Saturday 22 April) in a silver Mazda Bongo (campervan), going out for a day’s fishing.   The Ventnor and Needles Coastguard Rescue Teams, the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent and the Cowes RNLI Lifeboat, along with Hampshire Police, are conducting an inland and coastline search. If anyone has any information on their whereabouts, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Earlier today, at approximately 1.30 pm, the UK Coastguard was asked to assist Devon and Cornwall Police after a member of the public called 999 and asked for help when they became injured 40 foot up a cliff at Portwrinkle, Cornwall. They had become stranded after the tide came in and attempted to climb up the cliff. However they slipped and injured themselves part of the way up, and so called 999 to ask for help. Tamar, Plymouth and Looe Coastguard Rescue Teams, the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Newquay and Looe inshore and all-weather RNLI lifeboats were sent to the scene. The casualty was located and recovered from the cliff by helicopter. They were then airlifted to Derriford hospital. Matthew Rogers, Maritime Operations Officer for the UK Coastguard said:   “We would like to encourage everyone to enjoy our British coastline safely. So, carry a mobile phone, and tell someone where you are going and what time you will be home. Make sure that you check ...

Today, Friday 21 st April, Stephen Trust, Director of Trust Trawlers Ltd of Brixham, was given a six-month suspended sentence and fined a total of £20,000 after being prosecuted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for operating their fishing vessel in an unsafe manner and sailing in contravention of a detention notice.  Stephen Trust, Director of Trust Trawlers Ltd, who pleaded guilty on behalf of the company, was given a six month suspended sentence by Southampton Crown Court for operating an unsafe vessel and for refusing to provide information to the MCA during the investigation. He was also fined a total of £20,000 for these offences and for moving the vessel when detained, and ordered to pay £18,000 in costs. The 27 metre fishing trawler ‘Jacomina’, owned by Trust Trawlers Ltd in April 2016, was found to be in a poor state of repair and it was operating without a valid fishing vessel licence. Safety deficiencies included an expired hydrostatic release of the ...

A climber who fell at Minchin Hole Cave, near Swansea last weekend was dramatically rescued by the Coastguard helicopter after the winchman was flown through a narrow cliff crevice to reach the stricken casualty - all captured on the helicopter's winch cam. On Saturday 15 April, a group of climbers had been climbing at Minchin Hole, near the Gower, Swansea, when a male climber was injured after falling 5 metres onto rocks.  At around 3.40pm another member of the climbing group called 999 and asked for the Coastguard to help. Mumbles and Rhossili Coastguard Rescue Teams were immediately sent to the location, but due to its inaccessible location were unable reach the casualty using their specialist rope rescue equipment.  The Mumbles Lifeboat RNLI​ crews were able to reach the casualty and move him to a wider break in the hole so that the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan could winch the casualty safely and transfer him to Swansea Morriston Hospita...

Early this morning (18 April) an unwell fisherman was airlifted from a fishing vessel 10nm off the coast of Whitby. UK Coastguard received a VHF Radio call from the 18m fishing vessel, requesting medical assistance for the unwell crew member at around 8.15am. The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Humberside and the  Whitby RNLI official  Lifeboat were sent the location. Although visibility was good, the sea state was rough and there was a 25 knot wind. The casualty was winched on board and taken to James Cook Hospital, where the landing site was manned by the  Staithes Coastguard  and  Skinningrove Coastguard  Rescue Teams. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Rhossili and Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Teams went to the aid of a man who had climbed 120ft up the cliff at Rhossili today. The teams carried out a rope rescue and lowered the man to the ground, while the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter provided safety cover. Will Parfitt for the UK Coastguard said: "Cliffs around the UK can be slippery and unstable, so please do not attempt to climb them, unless you are properly trained and have the correct equipment."

The follow on search this morning at Cardigan for a missing dinghy sailor has now ended with nothing further found.   Coastguard rescue teams only will be making a shore line search this evening at low water at 6pm.  

Milford Haven Coastguard coordinated an extensive air and sea search for a missing dinghy sailor in Cardigan on Saturday evening. At 5.15pm on Saturday the Coastguard was contacted about an overdue dinghy sailor, aged 90 years old, who had not returned after a trip out on the water during the day and his small boat was found in Cardigan without anyone on board. The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Caernarfon, Cardigan, Gwbert and Moylegrove Coastguard Rescue Teams and RNLI lifeboats from Cardigan and Fisghguard were all involved in the search along with Dfyd Powys Police. After a thorough search of the area, nothing further was found and the search was suspended overnight.  Milford Haven Coastguard has resumed a search operation in the area this morning (Sunday 16th April).

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has officially opened the new North East Exam Centre, which is based at South Tyneside College. The centre will provide a location for Deck, Engineering and other Oral Examinations for the maritime community. Speaking at the opening, Katy Ware, Director of Maritime Safety and Standards at the MCA said: ‘The Marine School at South Tyneside College is a world-renowned centre of excellence for marine education and training, and so we are delighted that the college is now also home to this new exam centre, the first of its kind in the UK. ‘This new centre not only represents a significant change in the way the MCA delivers our Survey and Inspection responsibilities, but it also means maritime students no longer need to spend time and money travelling to a Marine Office for an examination, everything they need to get qualified is right on their doorstep.’ The Exam Centre has been opened as part of a new way of working for the MCA’s Surv...

Hours after a team of coastguard co-responders finished their first day of training from North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) they came across their first patient. Artist and owner of Impressions Art Gallery, 62 year old John Tierney from Holy Island, was at work his art gallery when he started to experience tightness across his chest. Nine hours prior, six coastguard staff on the island began intense training with NEAS on how to manage life threatening emergencies, such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, cardiac arrest, strokes and unconsciousness. HM coastguards Emma Rothera and Andy Cowan were returning from their first day of co-responder training when they came across fellow islander John Tierney, who it was later confirmed was suffering from a heart attack. Co-responders exist in cities, towns and villages where it may be a challenge for the emergency ambulance to arrive within the crucial first few minutes. Their aim is to provide immediate care to ...

3PM - Hollicombe Beach has been cleared of beachgoers whilst an ongoing incident is being handled by UK Coastguard, Devon and Cornwall Police and the Royal Navy’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team. At around 12.40pm today, UK Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public who had discovered a group of boulders appearing to have holes drilled in them with some wires sticking out on Hollicombe Beach, near Torquay. Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to the location immediately and cleared the public away from the area as a precautionary measure.  Devon and Cornwall Police and the EOD team were also informed.  The EOD team is on route and will be arriving at around 4.00pm. Rob Priestley, Duty Controller for the UK Coastguard said:  ‘We won’t know exactly what we are dealing with until the EOD team arrive.  Until that time, we have taken measures to clear the beach and make sure the public are kept safe.  We are appealing to people to stay ...

At 1.10pm today Dover Coastguard Operations Centre received a 999 call reporting a person in the water near Brightlingsea, Essex. Clacton and Walton Coastguard Rescue Teams, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd and the Clacton RNLI Lifeboat were sent to the location, alongside Essex Police, the Air Ambulance and the East of England Ambulance Service. The man was recovered from the water by the Essex Police boat and taken to Brightlingsea Harbour. The casualty is currently in the care of East of England ambulance service and the air ambulance Doctor. We have no further information.     

Earlier today at around 10.45am Police Scotland requested UK Coastguard assistance in the search for a missing person in Plockton, Scotland. Kyle of Lochalsh, Applecross and Portee Coastguard Rescue Teams, UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway and the Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI Lifeboat are all currently involved in the search. The search is ongoing and for any further information please contact Police Scotland.  

Earlier today just after 1.30pm, UK Coastguard received a 999 from a member of the public reporting that a walker had fallen on rocks and had injured her leg at Telpyn Point, near Tenby.  Her ordeal didn't stop there she was only 10ft away from a quickly rising tide.  Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team were first to arrive on scene, with the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan arriving soon after.  The paramedic winchman was lowered to the casualty and helped stabilise her until a Welsh Ambulance Service​ paramedic was brought in by the Tenby RNLI lifeboat​.   Once on scene, the teams worked quickly and winched the paramedic on board and then the winchman and the casualty.  She was flown to Swansea Morriston Hospital - where we hope she is going to make a quick recovery.   Ian Guy, Duty Controller for the UK Coastguard said:  'Although it may look like a simple and easy rescue, these rocks were very precarious.  The teams ...

Earlier today (Friday 7 April 2017) Tarmac Marine Ltd was fined a total of £130,544.57, for failing to properly deal with asbestos within one of their vessels and keeping their crew safe, in a prosecution brought by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency.   Tarmac Marine Ltd, who pleaded guilty to the offences, was fined £120,000 by Southampton Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120 and £10,424.57 towards the cost of the prosecution. The vessel ‘The City of Westminster’ is a 96 metre dredger with 12 crew operating around the UK. In January 2014 a survey identified the presence of asbestos in pipework from its build in 2008 with a recommendation that this was dealt with immediately. However, Tarmac Marine failed to act on this report and the crew were not informed of the presence of the asbestos on the vessel.   The issue came to light in January 2016 when the vessel was required to produce an asbestos free certificate to the Port...

Appeal for information regarding two kayaks (pictured) that have been found in the Weymouth/Portland area. The first red kayak was found early this morning on the shore line where Whitehead Drive runs to the beach just north of the ferry bridge to Portland Harbour. The kayak is described as a red sit-on kayak which has white markings on the side and the words www.abukayaks.com. There is also the small letter X written on the back. It has two lifting handles – one on the back and one on the front. There was no paddle or personal belongings found with the kayak. The second kayak is described as a two man touring type sit inside kayak – gold/brown/orange in colour with a white bottom. It has two storage compartments – with nothing found in either – which both have white lids. Kayak is made from fibreglass and is older style. There are no markings at all on this kayak. UK Coastguard has conducted extensive searches in connection with both kayaks but nothing found. If anyo...

A fisherman has been airlifted from a 44 metre fishing vessel after suffering a head injury off the coast of Whitby.  Yesterday (5 April) just after  11am , the UK Coastguard received a satellite call from the Swedish fishing vessel - which was 98 nautical miles northeast from Whitby, requesting medical assistance for one of their crew who had received the injury.   Humberside Coastguard Operations Centre did a link call between the vessel and a doctor at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg and they advised that the casualty should be airlifted as soon as possible for treatment. The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Humberside was sent to the vessel and airlifted the casualty to James Cook Hospital, where the landing site was manned by the Redcar Coastguard Rescue Team.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

Two girls were rescued from rocks at Ballymacormick Point yesterday evening by the Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team. The 15 year olds had become cut off by the tide and a passerby had seen them and called 999. The UK Coastguard was contacted by the Fire and Rescue Service at 9.30 pm and the Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team, along with the Bangor Lifeboat and the Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene. The Coastguard Rescue Team brought their vehicle onto the beach. A coastguard waded into the water, extracted the two girls from the rocks and brought them to shore and passed them into the care of the ambulance service. Although they were very cold, they were uninjured. Sarah Annett for the UK Coastguard said: “Always check the weather and tidal conditions before you set out.  At sea changes in tidal streams could make conditions worse, particularly if the wind and tide are against each other. Tidal heights may hide underwater hazards. Consider whether you could become ...

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s new Head of Maritime Operations, Julie-Anne Wood , has made history by becoming the first woman to achieve this rank in the history of Her Majesty’s Coastguard. The role of Head of Maritime Operations heads up the National Maritime Operations Centre in Fareham and the 10 Coastguard Operations Centres that co-ordinate search and rescue around the UK coast. It is one of the most senior roles in HM Coastguard, part of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, and up until now, the role has always been held by a man. Julie-Anne Wood began her Coastguard career in the Welsh coastal town of Milford Haven in 1999 as a part-time Coastguard Watch Assistant. Before that, she ran her own business providing safety training to fishermen and merchant seamen in Wales. An opportunity for a permanent Coastguard Watch Assistant came up and in Julie-Anne’s words, she ‘never looked back’. Over the next nine years, Julie-Anne progressed through the ranks t...

At around 10.30am today, a UK Coastguard helicopter and the  Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team  were called out to an injured mountain biker at the  BikePark Wales  near Merthyr Tydfil. The mountain biker had sustained a leg injury and due to the location's difficult access via road, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan was called in to help. Paramedics from the  Welsh Ambulance Service  HART Team helped stabilise the casualty for  winching, alongside our paramedic winchman and the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team members. The attending paramedic was winched first and then the casualty. She was airlifted to Merthyr Tydfil Hospital and we hope she makes a speedy recovery.

A fisherman has been airlifted from his fishing vessel after suffering a hand injury off the coast of Stornoway.  Just after 2.30pm on Sunday 2 April, the UK Coastguard received a satellite call from the vessel - which was 89 nautical miles from Stornoway, requesting medical assistance.  Stornoway Coastguard Operations Centre did a link call with the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the doctor advised that the casualty should be airlifted as soon as possible. The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway was sent to the vessel and airlifted the casualty to Glasgow Airport, where he was met by a waiting ambulance and taken on to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

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UK Coastguard are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation for a missing diver who last surfaced just after 11am this morning. The Coastguard rescue helicopter is on scene along with lifeboats from Seahouses. Coastguard Rescue Teams from Holy Island and Seahouses are also looking out from high ground and other vessels in the area have been informed and are assisting.

Sgt Proctor (right) was present his QBCQ award by Group Captain Paul Chappell at RAF Lossiemouth. Copyright RAF Lossiemouth Sergeant Sean Proctor, a UK Coastguard helicopter winchman, has been awarded the highly-coveted Queen's Commendation for bravery in the Air at a ceremony at RAF Lossiemouth earlier this week. The former RAF Search and Rescue crewman, who now works as a Coastguard winchman at Inverness, was recognised for his actions in rescuing a fisherman from his vessel during severe weather conditions back in February 2015. The Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air is awarded 'for an act (or acts) of bravery while flying not in the presence of the enemy.' The rescue for which Sgt Proctor received the award took place 95 miles north east of Aberdeen.  A RAF Search and Rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth was requested to airlift the crewman suffering from sever abdominal pain from his fishing vessel.  However, the very severe weather conditions, in...