Swanage lifeboats launch to two rescues in one day
Both Swanage lifeboats were launched this afternoon into a stiff southerly wind and steep seas off Peveril and Durlston points to help with the evacuation of a male casualty from Dancing Ledge.
The Swanage lifeboats had been launched to assist with the recovery of a male casualty dragged from the water who was reported as having a head injury and breathing difficulties.
Although the man was ashore it was unclear how best to get him to medical care given the terrain and evacuation by sea was an option being considered.
HM Coastguard volunteers from St Albans Head and Swanage arrived at Dancing Ledge at the same time as the lifeboats and found the casualty above the quarry. He had been in the sea and had ingested some water and was now suffering from an asthma attack.
Given his position it was easiest and safest to transport him to the waiting ambulance using the Coastguard vehicle and this plan was communicated to the UK Coastguard from the base of the hill via the lifeboat.
When the HM Coastguard vehicle had re-established direct communications from the top of the ridge the lifeboats were released to return to station.For the second time on the same day the all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch. This time they were asked to search inshore around St Albans Head. A red parachute distress flare had been sighted by a volunteer from St Albans Coastguard and further investigation was required.
The lifeboat launched and made its way to the search start position just off Winspit then searched with searchlights, illuminating flares and night vision equipment round to Chapmans Pool and back. Conditions on scene were not ideal for searching with frequent heavy rain showers but the area was covered and with nothing found the lifeboat and the volunteers from St Albans Coastguard were released to return to station with the lifeboat recovering back up its slipway just before 1am. Investigations in to the source of the flare were still on going.
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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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