Swanage RNLI lifeboats launch to stranded climber
Shortly after darkness fell on Sunday evening the Swanage lifeboats were launched to locate and recover a climber to the west of Anvil Point.
Both the all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, the George Thomas Lacy, and the inshore D class lifeboat Phyl & Jack were quickly on scene. The inshore lifeboat immediately approached the location of the casualty near to the base of the cliff to assess points of access.
A volunteer crew member from the inshore lifeboat was put ashore to assess the casualty’s condition and to see if it was possible to evacuate the casualty by water.
The casualty was found to be uninjured and with a safe exit route identified was happy to be recovered by sea. As the cliff base was illuminated by the volunteers from UK Coastguard and the all-weather lifeboat the casualty was fitted with a lifejacket and transferred to the inshore lifeboat, before being taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat for the trip back to Swanage Lifeboat Station. Once back in Swanage the casualty was given a cup of tea to warm up while waiting to be reunited with his climbing partner who had raised the alarm.
Swanage inshore lifeboat Senior Helmsman, Tom Greasty said 'the climbers made the right decision to call for assistance as soon as one of them got into difficulty ascending the cliff. With darkness fast approaching and having fallen once at a tricky part of the climb, getting help before tiredness and the cold set in was really important. The climbers had the correct equipment to raise the alarm and head torches so they could be quickly located, which just shows why being prepared is so important'.
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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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