HM Coastguard

  Two coastguards who have clocked up more than 80 years' service between them and a senior member of staff who has dedicated his life to the emergency services have been given awards in the New Year’s Honours.   Robert Harris, who serves with  Polzeath  Coastguard Rescue Team and Chris Thomas who is Deputy Director of HM Coastguard  each  receive  an  MBE  and  Ian Brown, who serves with Swanage Coastguard Rescue Team  receive s the BEM.   For Robert Harris, half a  century of service in his local community,  including the establishment of  Polzeath  Coastguard Rescue Team where he now serves as Station Officer  began when as a 21-year-old, he wanted to give something back to the area where he lives.   He’s attended more than 2,000 incidents, dedicating his life to responding to people in need, training others to his same high standards and often putting call outs before his personal life.   ...

HM Coastguard’s volunteers and staff have been working around the clock since the weekend, delivering water, food and immediate first aid to the people affected by the queues at Dover. Working closely with other agencies and partners as part of the Kent Resilience Forum (KRF), with a shared priority of keeping people safe, HM Coastguard is on the front line distributing the KRF’s welfare supplies. So far, the 60 HM Coastguard volunteers and HM Coastguard staff have delivered essential supplies directly to the waiting lorry drivers: 12,700 2L bottles of water (25,408 litres) 250 pizzas 2,000 meals (hot and cold) yesterday with a similar provision expected today (23 December) Immediate first aid Matt Pavitt, Coastal Operations Area Commander based at the HM Coastguard’s Dover operations centre, one of 10 key centres across the UK said: “We first became involved on Sunday evening and since then, we haven’t stopped and we won’t stop until we are ...

Coastguard Rescue Officer Jamie Newlands has been named the first ever ‘Pride of Scotland Emergency Service Award’ winner.  Credit: Pride of Scotland Jamie, a volunteer with Sumburgh Coastguard Rescue Team, was nominated for his part in a rescue that saved a young man’s life in May 2018.   Ellis Thomason, who was 19 at the time, went out for a walk with a friend at Fethaland, at the northern tip of Shetland.   After the pair made their way down a rocky cliff, the weather took a dramatic turn, with strong winds, heavy rain and rising squall all battering the teenagers. Ellis kept slipping on the wet rocks unable to make his way back up the cliff. To make matters worse, night fell, and the tide was quickly coming in around him.  Shetland Coastguard Operations Centre coordinated the rescue after receiving the initial 999 call and sent coastguard rescue teams from Lerwick, Hillswick and Sumburgh along with the coastguard helicopter from Sumburgh and Aith RNLI l...

Our Winter Coastal Safety Campaign, in partnership with the RNLI, is a reminder to us all that the coast and sea can be incredibly dangerous places – from rough winter seas to changing tides and unstable and eroding clifftop edges. So our gift to you this Christmas is to remind you to stay well back from stormy, wintery seas and cliff edges, check tide times before you go, take a phone with you, and get home safely.  If the worst happens at the coast, we’ll always be there – ready and waiting to respond. Just dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. But we really need you to do your bit so please take note of our safety advice and follow government guidance. Add a ‘coastal safety check list’ to your Christmas list and you’ll be primed for action.  Before you set-off, make sure you’re wearing appropriate footwear and carrying a fully-charged mobile phone so that you have a means of contacting family, friends or dialling 999 and asking for the coastguard, in a coastal emergency. Alw...

Two people were airlifted to safety by the Coastguard rescue helicopter this evening after getting cut off by the tide below cliffs at Tregantle Beach in Cornwall.   At 6.15pm HM Coastguard received a 999 call from the the two walkers who were trapped below cliffs after being cut off by an incoming tide.  HM Coastguard requested two RNLI lifeboats from Looe and sent Looe, Tamar and Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Teams.  Once on scene the rescue teams established that the location of the two people was impossible to reach with a boat due to the rough sea conditions and the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Newquay winched the two walkers to safety.   The walkers climbed on rocks to escape the rising tide and they reported that they had been exploring the beach and caves when they realised the tide was coming in and had already cut off their exit from the beach.   For coastal safety advice visit https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/ Notes To Editors...

State-of-the-art technology is bringing a new edge to the search and rescue work of HM Coastguard. Old copper-based cables are being replaced with fibre-based technology across 165 remote radio sites across the United Kingdom, starting with Weymouth on Wednesday 16 December. Each radio site receives distress calls from UK waters and the replacement technology will bring improvements such as security and bandwidth. Damien Oliver, Commercial and Programmes Director for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: “We are investing £175 million into this new national radio network, which is central in preventing the loss of life on the coast and at sea. “At a time when getting outdoors is pivotal to people’s mental health and wellbeing, it is essential that we can provide reassurance that we are here to respond to any emergency they may find themselves in, and this new network will enhance our ability to do that.” The new network is being built and maintained by Telent Technology Services Lt...

Planning a sea swim or cold water dip this festive season? HM Coastguard is calling on open-water swimmers and cold-water dippers to be prepared and follow safety advice before entering the sea this Christmas.     In a year when swimming pools have largely been closed, there has been a significant increase in people enjoying open-water swimming and cold-water dipping. There's also been an increase of nearly 80% (79.81%) in calls for HM Coastguard's help for swimming-related incidents - up from 436 between January and November 2019 to 784 for the same period in 2020.    Swimming in the sea is a tradition for many over Christmas and New Year but many organised events with safety marshalls have been called off this year. We are keen that the ever-growing number of swimmers and dippers are aware of the risks and know how to enjoy the activity safely, especially during the winter season.     ...

Her Majesty’s Coastguard has recognised the long service of two staff members based at Shetland Coastguard Operations Centre. Recently, Katrina Hampson, a Maritime Operations Officer, marked over 20 years with the coastguard and was awarded for her long service and good conduct, which involved receiving a certificate, medal and pin. Katrina joined HM Coastguard in October 1999 and has occupied a variety of roles over the course of the past two decades, including a spell as Watch Officer and Watch Manager, in which she quickly became an integral part of the team. In her existing position, Katrina operates at the heart of the operation in Shetland by working with colleagues to help coordinate responses to a whole range of incidents in coastal areas and at sea. Her colleague, Cassie Stevens, now a Training and Standards Officer, was also formally recognised for 10 years’ worth of service with HM Coastguard, by being presented with a certificate and pin. Having made the long move from Esse...

Lifesaving ‘sea’sonal gift ideas – six of the best Struggling to find that perfect Christmas gift for your coastal-loving nearest and dearest this year? Here’s a few of our ‘sea’sonal gift ideas that can be lifesavers, in more ways than one. Some of the items are free while others cost from just a few pounds, so whatever your budget, give a gift that will help keep your loved ones safe whether they are out on the water or enjoying our beaches and coastlines. A gift you can’t put a price on In 2020, more people than ever have been enjoying our coasts and taking to the water, and we’d encourage everyone to come back for more in 2021. But many people have found themselves in difficulty at the coast and have needed to call 999 Coastguard for our help.   HM Coastguard’s Tago Mcleod said:  “Accidents can happen to anyone – from the most experienced of seafarers to the first time beach visitor. But these risks can be minimised by taking some simple steps that will help everyone to st...

Last week, George Foxton, a volunteer team leader with Her Majesty’s Coastguard in Llandudno, retired after an incredible three decades' worth of service with the coastguard. Over the past 30 years, George has been a key part of HM Coastguard on the north Wales coast – attending incidents from cliff rescues to people being stuck in the mud.  At 66 but still as fit as a fiddle, George is retiring and is keen to see a new generation of volunteers not only follow in his footsteps but continue the pride and passion he demonstrated throughout his volunteering years. It has been quite a journey for the Scotland native, who moved to Devon for work in 1972 and went on to meet Ann, who would later become his wife, in the west country. In 1986, Ann's ties with Llandudno saw the couple move permanently to the seaside town. As recognition of his service with HM Coastguard – George will receive a bar to go with his long service medal and a letter of acknowledgement from the chief coastguard...