HM Coastguard

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Inverness flew in gale force winds of up to 50 miles an hour and experienced heavy turbulence to airlift the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team​  to rescue a fallen walker at Loch Avon, Scotland. The Coastguard helicopter was called in to assist just after 5.30pm and attempted to fly as close possible to the stricken casualty and his walking partner. The walker, who was in a party of two, had fallen about 40ft and suffered a serious leg fracture which needed urgent medical attention on Saturday (28 October). Gale force winds, heavy turbulence, poor visibility and low cloud cover meant that the helicopter was restricted to flying the Mountain Rescue Team about 1/2km from the location of the casualty.  The helicopter then made its way back to Glenmore Lodge to refuel and proceeded to wait for a break in the weather and a better opportunity to assist in the rescue. Despite the weather conditions, the casualty was in safe h...

An extensive search launched off the coast of Pembrokeshire after three men went out on a fishing trip and failed to return on time, has found the crew safe and well. HM Coastguard launched the search last night after receiving a call saying the crew of three had not been heard from since going off shark fishing from Dale around five o’clock yesterday (27th October) morning. The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from St Athan was sent to search last night for the 7m vessel along with Angle and St David’s RNLI lifeboat and Dale Coastguard Rescue Team. The crew and RHIB were confirmed as being safe and well just after 10pm. Dan Young, Senior Maritime Operations Officer with HM Coastguard said: ‘We received the call at 7:10 pm, reporting the vessel as overdue. After an extensive search involving the Coastguard helicopter, RNLI lifeboats and Coastguard Rescue officers and Dyfed Powys Police Officers the RHIB was found with all occupants safe and well...

Dramatic rescue footage of an injured fallen rock climber has just been released by the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway this afternoon. The female rock climber, reported to be in her early 20s, was rescued this afternoon after falling about 2 metres directly underneath Neist Point Lighthouse on the Isle of Skye. HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public just after 1pm today reporting that a climber had sustained a lower leg injury after falling and needed medical assistance. Portree, Dunvegan and Kyle Coastguard Rescue Teams, Leverburgh All Weather Lifeboat and the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter were all sent to the scene. The young climber was winched into the helicopter and taken to Stornoway Airport where she was met by the Scottish Ambulance Service for onward transfer to the Western Isles Hospital.  We wish her a speedy recovery.

The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan has airlifted an injured fisherman to Singleton Hospital in Swansea. At 10.46am today (26 October) UK Coastguard received a call from the vessel for medical assistance after a fisherman onboard injured his arm. The Anglesey RNLI all weather lifeboat and the Coastguard helicopter were sent to the vessel which was positioned south off Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire. The casualty was airlifted to Singleton Hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery.

HM Coastguard has issued a fresh safety warning after footage is released of young tombstoner who was injured after jumping into the sea from cliffs at North Landing yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon HM Coastguard was alerted to a group of young men jumping from the cliffs at North Landing, Flamborough, and one of the men had injured himself and was in the water. The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Humberside, Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team and the Flamborough RNLI inshore lifeboat were sent to the scene to locate and rescue the injured man. Bev Allen, HM Coastguard Controller based at Humber Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) said:  “Jumping from piers, cliffs, rocks or other structures into the sea can be very dangerous - there's a reason we refer to it as tombstoning.   The depth of water can dramatically change with the tide and you don’t know what hazards may be lurking under the surface until you are hurt or ...

Picture credit Geoffrey Lee Three new Codes of practice are coming into force on 23 October, which will improve safety for everyone in the fishing industry. All three Codes have been developed with the help of the Fishing Industry Safety group (which includes Fishing Federations, Seafish, the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association and the Fishermen’s Mission). Each Code has been designed to improve safety through the introduction of new safety requirements, adopting technological developments and addressing recommendations from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. They include holding monthly emergency drills, liferafts for specific vessels, the fitting of radar reflectors and bilge alarms, as well as fitting of carbon monoxide monitors, EPIRBs and personal locator beacons with built-in GPS. David Fenner from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency said: “We have worked hard with all those connected with the fishing industry on these codes. This is all about red...

MV Rutyer The captain of a Dutch motor vessel that ran aground at Rathlin Island has been fined £1,000 at Armagh Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to failing to keep a proper look out.    Ship’s captain Aleksandr Iakovtsov of the MV Ruyter pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).  He was charged under the Merchant Shipping Distress Signals and Prevention of Collision Regulations 1996 and also of failing to safely navigate his ship and causing serious damage to the ship (in breach of section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995).   On 10 October 2017 at 10.30pm BST the Dutch Cargo Ship ‘Ruyter’ was carrying a cargo of timber from Lemosov, Russia to Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, when it grounded on the north coast of Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland.   The ship called HM Coastguard Belfast and reported the grounding. A lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Team was launched and was presen...

UK Coastguard received a call from Northumbria Police  earlier this evening (Mon 16 th  October) about a 999 call from a man reporting to be lost at sea. The man was calling from a 24ft boat, reporting his positon somewhere to the north of Amble, he had lost power and radio communications, had narrowly missed some rocks and reported to be heading into a storm. The Coastguard spent lots of time talking to the man on his mobile telephone, and were eventually able to pinpoint his exact position by using Merchant vessels along with Amble and Howick Coastguard Rescue Teams. UK Coastguard then requested the launch of Amble RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat, who now have the man under tow on his way back to the Amble Harbour. Ryan Douglas, Senior Maritime Operations Officer for the UK Coastguard said, “It is absolutely essential to have the correct and most suitable communications equipment when setting out to sea, especially in extreme weather conditions, like we are exp...

During a training session in the Moray Firth earlier this morning, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Inverness was able to assist in a dog rescue that unfolded at Cummingston, Scotland. UK Coastguard received a call at at 10.45am today from a member of the public reporting that the Cockerpoo was being swept out to sea. The UK Coastguard helicopter, which was training in the area at the time, was quickly able to locate the animal and alert the Moray inshore rescue boat based at Findhorn to its location. They pulled the dog onto the boat and returned it to its owners who were waiting on shore with the Burghead Coastguard Rescue Team. In a few minutes the rescue was over and the Coastguard helicopter returned to its Sunday training session.

Picture credit @loabi_retriever UK Coastguard is warning beachgoers to stay safe and not to handle the creatures, which resemble Portuguese Man o War, after receiving multiple reports of them washing up on the Dorset and Devon coast.   The jellyfish type creatures have been reported at Dawlish, Lyme, Charmouth,  Bournemouth, Swanage, Seaton, Hove and Portsmouth.   Aimee Rampton Duty Controller for the UK Coastguard said: “We are aware of these sightings after receiving multiple reports from members of the public yesterday and today.  Until an accurate identification is made, members of the public are advised to keep away from these jellyfish and report any sighting to the their local council.  The Coastguard has also advised the local councils of these recent sightings.  Stings from Portuguese Man o War can be very painful and potentially harmful to humans and dogs alike.”

Photo credit Jorg Brunner Earlier today, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Newquay completed its 300th search and rescue mission for 2017. A ferry on route from Newlyn to the Isles of Scilly called the UK Coastguard just before 11am reporting an unwell passenger on board.  The helicopter crew, Captain Sharky Finn, Co Pilot Darren Manser, Winch Operator Ian Copley and Winchman Paramedic Reggie Gough flew to the vessel, which was situated between Lands End and the Isles of Scilly, and cared for the male casualty until he could reach Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske, where we wish him a speedy recovery.  The helicopter landed back at base just after 2pm where the next crew took over, refuelled the aircraft and headed straight back out for a training mission!   

Whilst everyone was still sleeping this morning, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Newquay was making its way to an unwell cruise ship passenger in the English Channel bound for Tilbury Docks. Just after 5.30am today, UK Coastguard received a VHF Radio broadcast from the cruise ship asking for assistance for the passenger who’d been injured after falling when the ship had docked at its previous port.   The vessel was 60 miles south east of Plymouth and using radar and FLIR imaging, the Coastguard helicopter made the approach in low cloud cover and poor visibility.  Once on scene the casualty was airlifted on board and he was taken to Plymouth Hospital for treatment - where we wish him a speedy recovery.   Incidentally this was the second cruise liner tasking for the Newquay Coastguard helicopter during their 24 hr shift.  They completed another medevac during Thursday afternoon some 60 miles west of the Isles of Scilly.

Sir Alan Massey presenting Tristan Greaney his award on behalf of the Shipping Minister. A trainee marine engineering officer says he’s received a massive boost in confidence after being awarded the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s Officer Trainee of the Year award. Tristan Greaney, 27, from Cornwall is a Third Marine Engineering Officer for Princess Cruises. He took a Light Marine Engineering course in Falmouth, acquiring hands on experience as well as completing a number of course work projects. He received his award, presented on behalf of the Shipping Minister,  from Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the MCA as part of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets Annual Court (MSSC).  Tristan’s college – Blackpool and the Fylde College - and his training company – Princess Cruises, were both invited to attend the ceremony at Trinity House in London on 11 October. The award aims to encourage and recognise quality within the maritime industry. Nominat...

Newquay Coastguard helicopter accomplished their 600th search and rescue mission yesterday with a medevac off the Cornish coast. At 2pm yesterday, UK Coastguard received a 999 call from a motor tanker reporting that one of their crewmen had fallen ill. The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Newquay was sent to a motor tanker, which was anchored 5nm west of Lizard Point, to airlift the casualty to hospital. Captain Jörg Brunner said:  ‘Due to very low cloud and fog in the area yesterday, we decided to climb to 3,000ft to avoid any obstructions on direct track to the incident. Once in the Mounts Bay area, we used our on board radar and Forward Looking Infrared systems (FLIR) to safely descend through cloud and fog and successfully located the ship. 'Once on scene, we winched the casualty on board and flew him via Falmouth and further along the Carrick Roads to Treliske Hospital, where we hope he makes a swift recovery.’

A family who were lost on a Welsh mountain have been dramatically rescued by the UK Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon. The family of four, two adults and two small children aged 5 and 11, were airlifted to safety by the Caernarfon Coastguard helicopter on Sunday evening after getting lost walking on Glyder Fawr in North Wales. North Wales Police received a call from the mother just after 5.30pm reporting that she was lost with her children after going for a walk earlier that day.  The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation​ were called in and split into three teams to search the area with tracking dogs from SARDA  Search and Rescue Dogs Association (Sarda Wales)​. Just after 8pm North Wales Police called in the UK Coastguard helicopter to assist as the light was fading fast and the family had still not been located. The Coastguard helicopter located the family just after 9pm on a precarious and steep mountain side and winched them all to safety. UK Coastguard ...

At 2.20pm the Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported that the Islay Trader had been successfully re-floated at high water with the aid of a tug, and towed to deeper water.  The cargo vessel ran aground this morning at Margate.  The vessel will now conduct a survey to assess its suitability for onward passage to Belgium, where it will offload its cargo and then enter a dry dock in order to conduct a full inspection.

A cargo vessel remains aground outside Margate Harbour. Shortly after 3am on Sunday morning the UK Coastguard was alerted that the cargo vessel Islay Trader, had dragged anchor and run aground near Margate Harbour between 30 and 50 metres from shore. There is no risk to life and the crew remain on board in preparation for an attempt to refloat and tow the vessel to safety around midday on Sunday with the next high water (2.30pm).  The ship’s agent has arranged for a tug from Medway, which is due to arrive late this morning. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer is working with the vessel's shipping agents during the recovery operation and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, (MAIB) have been informed. The Secretary Of State’s Representative for Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) has been informed and is monitoring the situation. The Islay Trader is a Barbudan flagged 75 metre general cargo vessel with six crew on board and carry...

At 12.30pm on Saturday, UK Coastguard received a 999 call reporting that a group of kayakers appeared to be in difficulty about half a mile offshore at Selsey in rough seas.  Coastguard Rescue Teams and RNLI Lifeboats from Littlehampton and Selsey attended and reported that everyone from a group  of 15 people was accounted for and had come ashore.   In rough weather it can be difficult to keep groups of small craft like kayaks together.  Follow the Coastguard's helpful safety advice:  ​ Sea  canoeing and kayaking  -  Ensure that someone at home knows your passage plan including points of arrival and departure, timescale, number in group and other relevant information. Check weather forecasts and tidal conditions and ensure that your skill levels are appropriate for where you are kayaking. Stay together with your group. Wear a buoyancy aid and check that eq uipment is functioning properly, that your distress flares are in date and...

At 5.30pm on Friday evening, Longhope RNLI lifeboat reported that they had recovered a diver from the water who was transferred to the care of Scottish Ambulance Service.

UK Coastguard is currently coordinating a search and rescue operation for an overdue diver in the Scapa Flow area.   Just before 4pm today UK Coastguard received a VHF Radio call from a dive boat, who was positioned 1nm NE of Cava Lighthouse, reporting that one of their divers was 15 minutes overdue.    Stromness and Kirkwall Coastguard Rescue Teams, Longhope RNLI Lifeboat and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Sumburgh are currently searching the area.   A Mayday relay broadcast has been issued by the Coastguard to all vessels in the area to join the search.   This is an ongoing search and rescue operation and we have no further information at this time.   

UK Coastguard is currently assisting the Yorkshire Ambulance Service with a medical evacuation at York Minster Cathedral.   Just after 11am today (5 October) Yorkshire Ambulance Service requested assistance from the UK Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) after receiving a report that someone needed medical assistance at the top of York Minster Cathedral.   Due to the inaccessible nature of the steeple, the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Humberside has been sent to assist with the medical evacuation.    This incident is ongoing and for any further information please contact the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.  

Photo credit:  Greg Caygill UK Coastguard is currently responding to reports of a vessel explosion 2nm South of Dodman Point, Cornwall. Just before  1pm  today, UK Coastguard received a call from a dredging vessel reporting that they’d had an explosion on board.  It is believed that a compressed air cylinder  exploded and two of the three people on board have been injured in the blast.  The Newquay Coastguard helicopter and the Falmouth RNLI Lifeboat are currently on scene evacuating the casualties to Derriford Hospital. A Royal Navy Fleet Auxiliary ship and a Fishery Protection vessel are also on scene assisting. UPDATE -  Newquay Coastguard helicopter crew have praised the assistance of the crews from a Fisheries Protection vessel and the Falmouth RNLI who assisted them with two injured casualties after an explosion on a vessel earlier this afternoon. The helicopter crew, Captain Darren Manser, Co-Pilot Ivan Hamilton, Winch Ope...

Marking their second anniversary today since they went live with HM Coastguard, the St Athan Coastguard helicopter has just released footage of a man and his dog rescued after getting stuck on a dangerous sliding cliff near Porlock, Devon. The call came into the Coastguard just before 5pm on Monday 2 October, from Avon and Somerset Constabulary​ requesting Coastguard assistance to find a missing man in the area of Porlock Point. The worried man had called 999 when he became disorientated and perilously close to a cliff edge just off the coastal path near Porlock. Minehead, Lynmouth and Watchet​ Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Minehead RNLI​ Lifeboat were all sent to the location to join the search. The man, who was waving his torch, was quickly spotted 100ft on top of a cliff by the Minehead RNLI. He was tired and in an extremely dangerous position on a sliding cliff face amidst dense undergrowth which made it very difficult for teams on the ground to reach the man safely....

Sophie Turner works as a press officer for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. Her role is varied, sometimes stressful, always exciting, and brings different challenges every single working day. On this particular day in May, Sophie had arranged for an HM Coastguard Mud Rescue Team to take part in a popular BBC children’s television show; CBBC Operation Ouch “Our plan was to demonstrate how the trained professionals rescue people and then let the presenters of the show, Drs Chris and Xand van Tulle ken have a go as part of Operation Takeover!” Sophie said. As the Coastguard Team set up their rescue equipment and the production team set up their cameras, a volunteer was needed to go and get stuck. In the mud. Three times! Sophie stepped up! Sophie continued “As I sat there, sinking slowly into the thick, chilly, slippery ground, I began to understand why people feel panicky about getting stuck. I also understood why the sight of the HM Coastguard team making their ...