Swanage lifeboats search for kayak and missing occupant

The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was launched at 7:18pm. It quickly headed to the location of the original sighting, half a mile off Anvil Point. Fresh information was received and the lifeboat headed towards Dancing Ledge.

The lifeboat found the kayak and some personal belongings and started to run a formal search. The inshore lifeboat (ILB) was launched to carry out shoreline searches in Durlston Bay and to the West.

Soon after a HM Coastguard helicopter had joined the search - now centred around St Albans Head - all assets were stood down. The paddler had made it safely back to shore in Swanage some time earlier.

At 9:19pm the ALB returned to Swanage with the kayak onboard to reunite it with its owner.

HM Coastguard explain that 'It’s really important that you label kayaks, canoes, paddles, paddleboards, inflatables, and any craft you take on the water. It means that if they are reported as having been blown out to sea or 'abandoned' around the coast, we can get in contact with you to ensure that you are OK.

And if your craft goes missing, please tell us straight away, giving a description of the craft (ideally sharing images with us for identification) and where and when it was last seen.

If we do find equipment drifting at sea or found around the coasts, we have to assume the worst. We may launch a time-consuming and costly search and rescue incident needlessly.'

You can order a free waterproof label from HM Coastguard here: https://f.mtr.cool/szhglwscuu

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Dave Turnbull, Becky Mack, Neil Brooks, Felix Williams, Ben Bamber, Scott Turner
ILB Crew: (Helm) Fergus Holley, Nigel Bower, Adam O'Neill, Archie Burgess
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Gary Buglass, (Winch) Julian Vass, Martha Tavinor, Neil Collings, Phil Palmer, Danielle Dix

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, b[email protected] 

Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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