HM Coastguard

A couple from Dorset have been retelling the moment they had to call 999 for the Coastguard and warning how ‘it could easily happen to you’ after they got into difficulty at the coast. Back in 2014, the couple set off for a quiet afternoon walk along the beach at Charmouth, the tide was out and the shingle beach was wide but the walk turned into a nightmare when part of a cliff collapsed. Debris from the cliff fall blocked their way back to the car park and their only other option – going through the sea – was even more dangerous as they would have been swept away. They had only one decision they could make.  They said: “We didn’t want to make the situation worse than it already was by putting ourselves in further danger and therefore called 999 and requested assistance from the Coastguard.”  The couple was winched to safety by search and rescue helicopter. They were told that another half an hour and the tide would have covered the beach where they had found themselve...

Cold water swimming or finding yourself in cold water unexpectedly means things can quickly take a turn for the worse. It can happen to the most experienced of people and it’s almost always when you least expect it. Only this week, a swimmer was swept out to sea at the mouth of the River Irvine, while earlier in the week a group of people got into difficulty in the sea off Cornwall – more details below. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve responded to numerous calls for help around our coasts and helping people in (and then out) of the water is in our safely spotlight this week.  Above is a library image of our teams training in water rescue (taken pre-Covid) Cold Water Shock Cold water shock can be life-threatening. If you enter the water when the temperature is below 15°C, your body will instinctively want to protect itself. This reaction can be very dangerous as cold water shock causes you to gasp for air involuntarily. It’s frequently followed by hyperventilation – rapid b...

Every day, Her Majesty’s Coastguard responds to all sorts of incidents involving people who never dreamed for a moment their day would be interrupted by an accident. It was certainly true for Charlotte Thomson, who was spending some time in her garden at the home she shares with her fiancé Joey in Smugglers Cove, Portreath on the north Cornish coast. She fell in her garden and was in such pain, it was clear she was going to need medical help. The ambulance could not get to her because of a landslide, so Portreath Coastguard Rescue Team was called in. They gave her first aid and got her onto a stretcher, carrying Charlotte a few hundred metres across the beach to the waiting ambulance. In the end, it turned out that the 33-year-old had fortunately not broken any bones but had suffered very painful bruising to her right leg. Charlotte, who is a small business owner in Cornwall, said: “People often say that they never thought something would happen to them and that’s definitely how I feel...

In the last week around our coasts, we’ve helped hundreds of people including people in a 'mud'dle, teens in trouble and paddleboarders ‘in a pickle’ when they were caught out by winds and waves. We've put together this safety spotlight as just a small snapshot of our 24/7 work to help people in difficulties around our coasts, from co-ordinating search and rescues to assisting authorities and our emergency services partners. Paddleboarders ‘in a pickle’: Wind and waves . Even the most experienced of paddleboarders can be caught out by fast-changing weather conditions. Tip: Wear a flotation device and a leash so you don’t become separated from your board, avoid going out when the wind is blowing offshore. Don’t forget to take a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. Paddleboarding is one of the fastest growing watersports and a great way to enjoy the water and keep fit. But it’s so easy to get into trouble, as two people found out in the last week. See how ...

We’re wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all mums out there and want to pay a special tribute to those mums being spoiled who work and volunteer with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Her Majesty’s Coastguard. One of those, Salen Coastguard Rescue Officer Sue Sinclair, who is a mum of two children Alisa and Jackson, will be doing her best to put her feet up this morning – before she completes water rescue training with HM Coastguard later in the day on Sunday! Voluntary service with the Coastguard certainly runs in the family for Sue and her loved ones; with her mum Anne also being a volunteer with Kilchoan Coastguard. Over the past four decades, the family have clocked up hours upon hours of volunteer time – with Andrew, Sue’s dad, occupying the role of Salen Coastguard Station Officer for the best part of 35 years and her brothers, Jim and Tom, having also supported with service to the team. “I'm really excited for Mother's Day this year as both my children are now old...

We’re on call 24/7 all year round and there’s barely a moment when our help isn't needed for people in difficulties around our coasts. Already this year, we’ve responded to 5,472 requests (up to 11am today, 12 March) for HM Coastguard’s help at all sorts of incidents – from our main role co-ordinating search and rescues to assisting authorities and our other emergency services partners. Spotlight on recent rescues In the last week, incidents have included reports of possible ordnance around the coast, people and pets in trouble on cliffs and swimmers and surfers caught out by a rapid change in weather conditions. Ordnance (eg bombs, shells, grenades, land mines, munitions) : After bad weather, many objects and potentially unexploded ordnance can often wash up on our shores. Report anything that looks out of place to the Coastguard. Tip : Don’t touch the item or try to move it. Let the experts decide.   On the south coast on 7 March, Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team w...

There’s one thing our 24/7 on call teams always expect around our coasts, it’s to expect the unexpected.  With this week’s strong winds and blustery showers for much of England and Wales, we’d urge everyone to take extra care at the coast. And especially if you see something ‘unexpected’ as strong winds and waves will often wash up or reveal ordnance that’s been out of sight for years.  Unexpected ordnance? An unexpected discovery of ordnance is exactly what happened to local resident Alison Davin earlier this year at Formby beach, Merseyside, a few days after a high tide. Image with thanks to Alison Davin “I was out for my exercise on Formby beach on a bitterly cold late afternoon, but I decided to keep going and walk to a distant rock along the waterline before turning back for home. But when I got closer, I realised it wasn’t a rock. It was rusty, covered in barnacles and I’d never seen anything like it before,” she said. Unsure of what to do, Alison took some photographs a...

A swimmer had to be rescued when she got into trouble off Tunstall Beach, Holderness earlier this afternoon. Two people had gone for a swim when the conditions changed and one of them could not swim back to shore. The second swimmer called HM Coastguard for help. HM Coastguard’s helicopter from Humberside was sent along with Withernsea and Hornsea Coastguard Rescue Teams and the RNLI lifeboat from Withernsea. The swimmer was winched to safety by the helicopter and taken to Hull Royal Infirmary. Sam Stockdale from HM Coastguard said: “This is a stark reminder of how quickly things can change at sea and can catch out even the most experienced swimmer. “The swimmer’s friend did exactly the right thing by calling us as soon as she could. Time is of the essence in these potential life and death situations and we will always respond to those in need.”

A long-serving Coastguard Station Officer has been recognised for his lengthy service with Her Majesty’s Coastguard. Late last year, on Wednesday 9th December 2020, Peter Sproxton, Station Officer of the Shingle Street Coastguard Rescue Team, was the recipient of the ‘Individual Of The Year Award 2019’ for his volunteer work. Peter received recognition from HM Coastguard staff and volunteers after spending over two decades with the Coastguard Rescue Service. The award was presented by Maritime and Coastguard Agency Chief Executive, Brian Johnson, at the Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Station, in line with COVID-19 protocols. In 2018, Pete – in addition to his duties as Station Officer for the Shingle Street Coastguard Rescue Team – volunteered to take on an additional role as Aldeburgh Coastguard Rescue Team Station Officer due to the fact the Team had undergone some change in recent times. With the support of the Area Management Team, Shingle Street and Lowestoft Coastguard Rescue Teams...

Over the weekend, a couple out exercising at the coast on the Isle of Sheppey found themselves in a ‘sticky situation’ but a 999 call to HM Coastguard meant that help was soon on its way. One person got stuck in the mud and the other attempted to help but became stuck themselves. Sheppey and Herne Bay coastguard rescue teams were sent along  with Sheerness lifeboat, South East Ambulance Service, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent Police. Specialist coastguard mud rescue technicians were able to recover both people to safety with assistance from the ambulance’s Hazardous Area Response Team and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. The pair were passed into the care of the ambulance service to be checked over before they were able to make their own way home. Rebecca McKeown, Maritime Operations Officer for HM Coastguard said: “It must have been frightening for them, one of whom was stuck up to their waist in mud. Although cold and shocked thankfully they were both otherwis...