HM Coastguard

Sunglasses and safety at the ready? Heading for the coast this Bank Holiday?  The sea won't spot the difference between the experienced paddleboarder and the rookie swimmer. And coastal paths won't care whether you're a seasoned walker or stepping out on your first hike... If you’re looking forward to enjoying some longed-for warmer weather, please remember that, although stunning, our coastlines can be challenging when it comes to safety. At the start of what’s set to be a busy summer around the UK, we’ve put together a few easy-to-follow safety tips that will help you and your loved ones make the most of the coast.      Rudy Rescue. Credit: Prawle Point Coastguard Rescue team  Latest rescues  Accidents on the coast can happen in the blink of an eye and catch you out before you know it whether you’re a local or on your first break in ages. Here’s selection of some ‘everyday’ incidents where our help has been needed in the last week. Rudy Rescue: Muc...

Imagine this. A total stranger saves your life by stepping in to help you at a time of emergency, but you have no way of thanking them? In fact, you don’t know their full name, whether you will ever see them again and have only a tiny clue to who and where they might be. Back in September of this year, holidaymaker Liam Muns, 34, who was in Disneyland Paris, suffered a major health scare after choking on his food at a restaurant one evening. A first aider was needed and thankfully sitting just a few tables away from Liam and his family was Harry Patrick, a volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer with Mullion Coastguard Rescue Team, who was on holiday too, with his family. Earlier this year – in June, Harry acquired new-found first-aid and life-support training skills as part of his operator role with HM Coastguard, and he was able to put that knowledge to use there and then, in the heat of the moment. Liam Muns Indeed, his intervention – alongside one other person who of...

Two people were dramatically rescued off Cornwall early this morning (18th November) after their sailing vessel began taking on water and started to sink. Falmouth Coastguard received a radio mayday broadcast at 5.18am from the two people on board the 70-feet yacht, reporting that the vessel was 21 nautical miles north of the Isles of Scilly and the on-board electrics and pump had failed due to the incoming water. It meant that they could not stop the water flow, which continued to increase. The crew, who were wearing life jackets, launched the life raft, climbed aboard and abandoned the yacht after sending their mayday message. The Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter (R924) from Newquay and the St Ives RNLI all-weather lifeboat were sent to the rescue by Falmouth Coastguard. A nearby fishing vessel, Cornishman, had also heard the radio distress message and went to offer help. The search and rescue helicopter from Newquay arrived at 6.15am and quickly spotted the two m...

Watch the dramatic moment when a man was rescued by a HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter in a remote area of Cornwall on Sunday (10th November). The team on-board Newquay-based Sikorsky S92 aircraft were actually airborne and on their way to Land’s End for a routine training exercise – but received contact from the Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC), reporting that a man had fallen into the water at Porthcothan, a coastal village between Newquay and Padstow. Walkers at Park Head cliff tops in Porthcothan saw a local fisherman washed off the rocks at Bedruthan Steps and straight into freezing cold seawater. Responding to the incident straightaway, the search and rescue helicopter headed to the scene but were roughly 30 minutes or so away from caring to the man. Fortunately, during the time it took for the search and rescue team to arrive at Porthcothan, a quick-thinking member of the public managed to throw a life-ring...