HM Coastguard

ST ATHAN’S HM Coastguard search and rescue (SAR) helicopter base has rung the changes with the arrival of two brand-new Leonardo AW189 helicopters, which flew into service for the first time yesterday. The new aircraft replace two smaller Leonardo AW139 aircraft, which have been a familiar sight in the skies above South Wales and North Devon since October 2015. Each new £20 million AW189 helicopter, painted in red and white HM Coastguard colours, is operated by Bristow Helicopters Limited, on behalf of HM Coastguard. The Coastguard base at St Athan is the fourth base in the UK to fly this new model of helicopter for SAR missions, following Lydd and Lee-on-Solent on the south coast, and Prestwick in Scotland. The Leonardo AW189 is the latest generation helicopter in its category and is designed to meet long-range, high endurance requirements for search and rescue missions in the most demanding operational and environmental conditions. St Athan is one of seven p...

A search and rescue operation has been carried out on the River Forth in Scotland after difficult weather conditions affected a swimming event. The RNLI lifeboat from South Queensferry was sent to the Firth of Forth Swimming event, along with the South Queensferry and Fisherrow Coastguard Rescue Teams. It followed a number of reports to HM Coastguard that safety boats were struggling to cope with the conditions. Kinghorn RNLI lifeboat was brought to immediate readiness to launch as a further precaution. Scottish Ambulance Service also attended. Duty commander Mark Rodaway OBE said: ‘An extensive search of the area was conducted until we were able to ascertain from the organisers that everyone had been accounted for.’ The event has now been cancelled. 

A man attempting to row from the United States of America to the UK has been rescued 750nm off Land’s End this morning. The rower reported to HM Coastguard that he was in difficulties, just before 1 o’clock this morning and said he was battling two and a half metre waves. HM Coastguard broadcast alerts to vessels in the area and the man was picked up by a merchant tanker who diverted to the scene. His 23-foot wooden rowing boat is being towed by the vessel. Duty commander Mark Rodaway OBE said: ‘He’s been picked up safe and well. We’ll continue to keep in touch with him via the tanker crew while they progress their passage back towards New York. ‘This is a good example of how well the National Maritime Operations Centre and the Coastguard national network coordinates long range rescue missions. We’re grateful to the tanker for responding and rescuing this rower.’

A man has been rescued by HM Coastguard helicopter after he was thrown from his digger into a ravine at Rogart, Scotland. Just after 10am today , the Scottish Ambulance Service requested HM Coastguard assistance after they'd received a report that a man was trapped in underneath his digger in a river.    Helmsdale, Dornoch and Inverness Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter were all sent to incident. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was also informed of the incident. The first to arrive on scene was the HM Coastguard helicopter who quickly established that the man was thrown clear of the digger into a ravine. Dornoch Coastguard Rescue Team assisted the helicopter crew to free the man from ravine. He was treated on scene for possible rib fractures and taken to a waiting ambulance at Cameron Barracks.