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Six paddle boarders caught out at Old Harry Rocks as winds pick up

Lifeboats News Release

Swanage's D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) and all-weather Shannon class relief lifeboat (ALB) were launched to locate and assist several paddle boarders struggling in Studland Bay

Swanage lifeboat crew

RNLI/Roydon Woodford

Swanage lifeboat crew
A group of three paddle boarders were reported as needing assistance and both lifeboats headed towards Old Harry at best speed. Contact was made with a yacht, who had picked up two of the casualties and had them, cold but unharmed, on board. The yacht's skipper reported that the third paddle boarder was still in the water some way from their position.

The inshore lifeboat (ILB) located this third paddle boarder and took them on board. After a little confusion as to where they had launched from they were returned to shore to the care of waiting HM Coastguard volunteers.

In the meantime, the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) had taken the other two casualties on board to be warmed up in the wheelhouse. The casualties, boards and paddles were safely transferred ashore by the ILB.

While this incident was taking place the volunteer lifeboat crew were monitoring a further group of three paddle boarders who were close into the cliff towards Old Harry.

Beginning its return to Swanage, the ILB diverted to pass close to this group to check that they were OK. The group asked for assistance to get back to south beach realising that the offshore wind was making paddling conditions challenging. All three paddle boarders and their equipment were taken onto the ILB and transported to the HM Coastguard volunteers waiting ashore.

With all six paddle borders safely ashore, both lifeboats returned to Swanage to be washed down and re-fuelled.

(Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Steve Williams, Matthew Steeden, Bryan Jones, Alan Parmenter, Ben Bamber

(Helm) Tom Greasty, Darren Tomes, Alice Haw

(Head Launcher) Gary Buglass, (Winchman) Luke Kill, Laura Orchard, Nigel Bower, Julian Vass

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Becky Mack, Swanage RNLI Volunteer Press Officer on 07812 558487 or at [email protected]

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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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