Swanage Lifeboat is diverted to help a casualty in Chapmans Pool

Already at sea, the ALB was off Kimmeridge Ledges when it offered assistance to the nearby incident. Along with Weymouth ILB, the lifeboat headed to Chapman's Pool to help HM Coastguard Rescue Teams from St Albans and Kimmeridge. Two volunteer crew members and first aid equipment were ferried from Swanage Lifeboat to the shore by Weymouth ILB. One of the Swanage crew and a paramedic from Weymouth's ILB headed round the bay on foot to provide pain relief and first aid to the casualty.

Options were considered for the extraction of the casualty. HM Coastguard sent a rescue helicopter which was tasked as the most efficient method to get the casualty from the bottom of the cliffs to a waiting ambulance at Renscombe car park.

Swanage lifeboat remained in the vicinity to offer assistance and aid communications. The casualty was winched aboard the helicopter and the volunteer RNLI crew were released to be taken back to the lifeboat by Weymouth's ILB. All lifeboats were then released from service and headed back to their respective stations.

This was a great example of a coordinated rescue between HM Coastguard and two RNLI flank stations.

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Roydon Woodford, Neil Brooks, Nigel Bower, Jamie Trumper, Jamie Trumper, Gary Buglass

Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Neil Collings, (Winch) Jeremy Stein, Archie Burgess

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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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