Poole and Mudeford lifeboats launch to reports of person in water
Both Poole RNLI Lifeboats along with Mudeford were tasked today (Tuesday December 18) to a report of a person in the water, 25 metres off, by Bournemouth Pier
Poole volunteers launched at 11.17 to a report that a person had entered the water off Bournemouth Pier, Rescue helicopter 175 and Southborne Coastguard were also tasked by the UK Coastguard.
Conditions out in Poole Bay were extremely rough with strong southerly winds and a 4 metre swell.
As the D class was passing East Looe channel, news came through over the radio that the person was ashore, so the D class was stood down and returned back to station, meanwhile the Atlantic had arrived on scene, west of Bournemouth Pier, the Poole Lifeboat was requested to standby alongside the Mudeford Lifeboat as it was not clear how many people had entered the water at that stage.
One person had been buffeted ashore by the onshore wind, he had been carried by the breakers as they pounded the beach, an ambulance crew were on scene, and the casualty was transferred to Bournemouth hospital.
The Lifeboats were stood down as they received confirmation that no one else was involved in the incident and Poole Lifeboat returned back to station, refuelled and made ready for service by 12.30pm.
Poole Lifeboat volunteer Helm Ed Davies said;
‘Conditions were horrendous in the bay, it was extremely lumpy out there, with the surf running hard. The onshore wind was quite challenging, however it helped the person, as he was pushed by the surf ashore’.
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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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