Two successive callouts to evacuate people from Studland Bay in the early hours

The  lifeboat volunteers were tasked by Solent Coastguard to evacuate a poorly man from his 24 ft yacht anchored in Studland Bay.  The lifeboat was soon on scene but due the amount of vessels  at anchor in Studland bay (over 50+)  the lifeboat crew had to be guided in by flashlight .

Volunteer crew boarded the vessel and assessed the casualty, they then transferred the casualty onto the inshore lifeboat.

Due to the casualties ailment  the lifeboat had to come  back into the harbour reasonably slowly to make him  as comfortable as possible.

When the lifeboat arrived back at the station the casualty was transferred to an ambulance that was standing by at the lifeboat station and taken to Poole Hospital.

The lifeboat was back on service by 02:30am.


Then just before 04: 00am  a report that there was a person in the water.

Solent Coastguard tasked the Poole inshore lifeboat and  Swanage coastguard to Knoll beach, to a report of a person in the water some 40 yards off the shore.

Whilst on route, Communications came through that the Coastguard team had found the casualty washed up upon the beach, the Coastguard reported that the casualty was deteriorating rapidly and had been in the water for approximately 4 hours, they requested immediate evacuation.

The lifeboat was swiftly on scene and 3 crew assessed the casualty, they reaffirmed that a rapid evacuation to an ambulance at North Haven steps was imminently required.

A crewman lifted the casualty and carried  him back to the lifeboat, the lifeboat then transferred him  at best speed, to North Haven steps, by the chain ferry. They then handed over the hypothermic casualty to the ambulance, who took him to Poole Hospital.

The lifeboat crew returned back to station and their beds and we're ready for service 04:45am.

Volunteer Helmsman Alex Evans said;
'Studland bay was teeming with hundreds of vessels  at anchor  and we had to navigate carefully through boats with no anchor lights, using radar. It's reported that the casualty had been kayaking, if it wasn't for the first informant who called in the sighting of this chap in the water, it could have been a very different outcome , he was extremely fortunate'.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on07887 855073 - [email protected] or Dave Riley, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07795 015042 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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