Busy start to the May bank holiday for Swanage volunteer lifeboat crew

Due to the tricky location of the casualty and the injuries sustained, a multi-agency response had been requested. The inshore lifeboat (ILB) was able to enter the shallow waters of Kimmeridge bay to deploy two volunteer lifeboat crew at the casualty’s location where they joined forces with volunteer HM Coastguard, Fire and Rescue services, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and ambulance paramedics to plan an evacuation.

ILB Helmsman, Gavin Steeden said: 'We had to make a careful approach to the casualty as the area has a number of ledges that make access challenging. Once we established the location of the casualty it became clear that evacuation by sea would be the safest and quickest option'.

Following consultation with the emergency services in attendance it was decided to transfer the casualty by lifeboat to Kimmeridge slipway and the waiting ambulance. Following assessments by the treating paramedic and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance doctor, the casualty was carefully guided to the ILB and transferred across the bay. Once the casualty was safely transferred to the ambulance the Swanage lifeboats were freed to return to station.

Little more than an hour after returning to the station both Swanage’s lifeboats were tasked again, this time to an injured climber near Dancing Ledge. A kayaker had reported the incident and was positioned at the casualty location to assist with directing the lifeboats.

As the exact of the climber was unknown the Coxswain of the all-weather lifeboat, Rob Aggas, used direction finding equipment to search for a radio signal and quickly detected a radio signal east of Dancing Ledge. As this location was checked the onboard lifeboat crew confirmed visual identification of the kayaker standing by.

The ILB made the approach to the cliff, navigating the rocks to put two crew members ashore to assess the casualty. As the casualty was prepared for evacuation the ILB searched for a safe location to collect and then transfer the casualty to the all-weather lifeboat.

ILB Helm, Becky Mack said: 'The climber’s location was not accessible by land without climbing equipment, meaning that access by sea provided the quickest means of recovery. The clear water and good sea state made it easier for us to navigate the rocks and recover the casualty.'

The casualty was transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and then taken to the Poole Harbour entrance so that the casualty could be put ashore and taken to hospital.

After more than two and half hours at sea for the two rescues the pagers remained quiet for the rest of the day.

RNLI Media Contacts:

Becky Mack, Swanage Lifeboat Station Lifeboat Press Officer (07812) 558487 [email protected]

Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, South East and London ((07785) 296252 [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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