
Two calls in one for Swanage RNLI volunteers
Volunteer crew from Swanage RNLI respond to two shouts in quick succession.
The UK coastguard asked for assistance from Swanage RNLI volunteers when a personal locator beacon (PLB) was detected near Old Harry Rocks
As the volunteer crew assembled and prepared to launch, the UK coastguard received a 999 call from two kayakers, one of whom had activated the personal locator beacon. One kayaker had capsized and was exhausted, now clinging to the kayak and being helped by their companion, but they were unable to get back onto the kayak or to make their own way to safety.
The lifeboat made good speed to the located position and after a short search the kayakers were located a mile further south. The exhausted kayaker was lifted onto the lifeboat and checked over by a Casualty Carer. The second kayaker was also brought aboard the lifeboat along with both kayaks.
The lifeboat returned to Swanage to be met by Swanage Coastguard volunteers and an ambulance crew. Just as the two kayakers had been placed ashore another call came in from the UK Coastguard and the lifeboat put to sea again.
A fishing vessel had reported seeing a drifting dinghy and the UK Coastguard wanted to eliminate the possibility that there were people in distress associated with it.
Volunteer crew plotted the position of the fishing vessel and an estimated location of the drifting dinghy was established. The lifeboat had just begun searching for the dinghy when an eagle-eyed volunteer crew member spotted the dinghy a few hundred metres off to the right hand side of the lifeboat.
The small dinghy showed no signs of having been occupied, but did pose a hazard to other boats. After a short struggle the dinghy was lifted onto the rear deck of the lifeboat and a route was plotted back to the boathouse.
This time the lifeboat was able to re-house and get washed down before the volunteer crew made it home in time for lunch.
Key facts about the RNLI:
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Charmaine Tideswell, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Regional Media Manager Hatti Mellor, [email protected]
RNLI press office on 01202 336789 or [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.