http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/latest The latest launch info from Swanage Lifeboats en-us Swanage Lifeboat Station Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:25:00 +0000 20 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=719 Portland Coastguard requested the assistance of Swanage's Inshore Lifeboat to carry out a coastal search between Sheps Hollow and the shoreline of Ballard Down. They had received several reports of a paraglider with an orange or yellow canopy, landing in the area and not seen since. He had possibly landed in deep undergrowth. The ILB was launched and on scene 3 minutes later to commence searching. Swanage Coastguard Mobile unit were also on scene and carrying out a shoreline search. After some time still nothing had been found so the Coastguard rescue helicopter was tasked, arriving on scene at 2036hrs. The helicopter searched the area and the coastline. Nothing was found so all units were released to return to station. The incident was thought to be a false alarm with good intent. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=719 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:25:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=718 Both Swanage Lifeboats were requested to launch today to assist in the evacuation of a teenage male who had badly injured his knee whilst coasteering. He was on an inaccessible ledge just to the West of Dancing Ledge. Both lifeboats launched with the faster inshore lifeboat arriving on scene just after Coastguard rescue helicopter 106. One of the lifeboat crew was put ashore to assist in preparing the casualty for evacuation. The all weather lifeboat arrived shortly after and stood off to provide a communications link. The volunteers from St Albans Coastguard were also at the top of the cliff to oversee the operation and liaise with the rest of the coasteering party. After about 40 minutes the casualty was immobilised, secured into a stretcher and lifted into the helicopter for a short flight to Dorchester A&E. With the casualty safely recovered all units were released to return to station. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=718 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:08:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=717 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of the Swanage Lifeboat after being contacted by the local dive boat 'Preditor' saying one of their divers had made an uncontrolled ascent. The Lifeboat launched and was alongside 'Preditor', in the vicinity of the wreck of the 'Kyarra', a short while later. 2 crew from the lifeboat assessed the casualty and prepared him for transferring to the Lifeboat. Meanwhile, Portland Coastguard scrambled Rescue Helicopter 106. 1230hrs: casualty & buddy transferred to the Lifeboat 1234hrs: 'Preditor' returns to Swanage with the remaining divers 1238hrs: winchman from Rescue 106 onboard 1242hrs: casualties buddy winched to Rescue 106 1245hrs: casualty and winchman lifted to Rescue 106 The Lifeboat was then released and was back on its slipway at 1255hrs. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=717 Sat, 1 Jun 2013 12:03:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=716 With the All Weather Lifeboat out on service the crew were surprised when their pagers went off again. This time the inshore lifeboat was requested to launch to assist a wayfarer sailing dinghy that was being swept through the tidal race at Peveril Point by the strong ebb tide. The lifeboat was quickly afloat and alongside the casualty 2 minutes later. They were taken in tow and returned to the safety of the beach at Swanage Sailing Club. The lifeboat was then released and returned to station to await the arrival of the all weather lifeboat. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=716 Wed, 29 May 2013 16:10:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=715 A busy afternoon for the volunteers at Swanage Lifeboat Station started with a call for the All Weather Lifeboat. They were tasked to a 32' yacht in difficulties in the tidal race at St Albans Head. The yacht's engine had stopped working, they had electrical problems meaning the communications were very difficult and with the light winds they were being pushed West with the ebb tide. The lifeboat launched and was alongside just over 30 minutes later. A crewman was put aboard and the yacht taken in tow back to Swanage. Once in Swanage the yacht was secured to the RNLI mooring. The lifeboat was then released to return to station. To help the yacht's crew out it was decided to tow them to Poole later in the evening as part of the regular Weds night training. Once in Poole they would be able to get the repairs carried out that they needed to continue on their passage to Finland! http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=715 Wed, 29 May 2013 14:55:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=714 Swanage's all weather lifeboat was launched today to assist a 10m yacht with engine failure 1Nm South of Anvil Point. The yacht's skipper had broadcast a 'Pan Pan' when his engine stopped and there wasn't sufficient wind for him to maintain steerage. The lifeboat launched and was quickly alongside the yacht. A towline was passed across and the yacht towed back to the RNLI mooring in Swanage. The lifeboat was then released to return to station. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=714 Tue, 28 May 2013 11:40:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=713 Swanage inshore lifeboat was called out today after members of the public reported 3 kayakers in difficulty off Anvil Point. One had capsized and seemed to be struggling to get back in his boat. The lifeboat crew were paged and a call put out to all vessels in the area to see if anyone could assist. As it happened the border agency boat 'Searcher' was nearby and they launched their RIB to help. The lifeboat launched and met up with Searcher's rib who had located the kayakers and had taken them on board. One of the kayakers was very cold so they were taken straight back to the lifeboat station to warm up. The lifeboat then returned to Durlston Bay to retrieve the 3rd kayaker who was struggling with the strong ebb tide. With everyone now safely ashore the lifeboat crew were released and the lifeboat recovered back to the boathouse. The volunteers from Swanage Coastguard then kindly offered to give the kayakers a lift to Studland to their vehicles. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=713 Sat, 25 May 2013 13:51:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=712 The volunteer crew of Swanage's Inshore Lifeboat were called into action this afternoon to assist a jet skier in difficulties approx 1Nm East of Old Harry Rocks. His engine had failed and the spring ebb tide was taking him to the South. The lifeboat launched and was alongside a little under 10 minutes later. The jet skier was taken aboard the lifeboat and his ski taken it tow back to where he had launched in Poole Harbour. Once they had landed the casualty safely ashore the lifeboat was released to return to Swanage. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=712 Wed, 22 May 2013 13:45:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=711 Portland Coastguard requested the launch of Swanage's All Weather Lifeboat to assist a 47' motor boat that had struck a reef of rocks in the north of Swanage Bay. The combination of low tide and bad visibility, due to the sea mist, caused the skipper of the boat to strike the rocks causing damage to both propellors and the rudders. The lifeboat was quickly alongside the vessel and two crew members were put aboard. They assessed the damage and as the vessel didn't seem to be leaking the crew were left on board and the boat taken in tow back to Poole. The visibilty at this time was about 100m so slow progress was made out to sea. Once clear of Old Harry rocks the visibility improved greatly and the mist soon cleared. The boat was towed to Parkstone Yacht club where it was left on a mooring to be lifted out of the water later in the day. The lifeboat and its volunteer crew then returned to Swanage. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=711 Mon, 6 May 2013 13:35:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=710 A 'Pan Pan' call to Portland Coastguard sparked the first Swanage Lifeboat service for quite some time. A 47' French yacht on passage from Normandy to Poole had become stuck on a string of pots and the three crew on board had been unable to free themselves. The crew on board spoke very little english, but managed to pass an accurate position to the Coastguard, who relayed it to the Swanage volunteers. The throttles were opened wide as the plotted position was 15nm SSE, the best part of an hours steaming at full speed. When on scene crewman Steve Williams was put aboard to check the state of the yacht and crew. Meanwhile the Lifeboat used a grappling hook to snag the offending rope, which was winched aboard aboard, cut and eventually freed from the yacht. The yacht proved to be undamaged and the crew were quite happy to continue their voyage, so the Lifeboat retrieved its crewman and began the passage back to Swanage, to be rehoused at 1605hrs. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=710 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:26:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=709 Both Swanage Lifeboats were launched on the evening of Sun 13 Jan to assist in a multi-agency search for a missing person. The person had been missing since 18:30 and police were now concerned for his safety. Both lifeboats launched and were tasked to search Durlston Bay. Six volunteer crew were put ashore in three teams of two to sweep the beach whilst the lifeboats provided extra illumination. After about ninety minutes the area was thoroughly searched with nothing found. The search teams were recovered and the lifeboats were then asked to search the area around the pier and the northern end of Swanage Beach that was cut off by the tide. These areas were searched by 23:52 and with no further tasking the lifeboats were stood down to return to station. As the crew were leaving the station after washing the boats down and making them ready, information was received to say that the missing person had been found safe but cold about a mile from his residence. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=709 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:14:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=705 Last year it was the 13th January before the Inshore Lifeboat was called out. Last year the first call of the year was to Bobby the dog, who had fallen off the cliffs near Old Harry. Bobby survived the fall and was reunited with his owners after a check up. This year, it was just after 11 o’clock that the ILB was launched to the same place, but this time the dog’s name was Beau. The young spaniel has taken the direct route off the cliffs after chasing gulls and finding the hard way that birds are better equipped for life 90 odd feet above the sea. Luckily, a high tide made for a soft landing and Beau survived the fall with no injuries other than a scratch over one eye. The ILB crew, Swanage Coastguard, the owners and Beau all met up at Joe’s Café before the ILB returned to Swanage to be made ready for further service. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=705 Tue, 1 Jan 2013 11:13:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=704 Both Swanage Lifeboats were today called to assist Coastguards, both Poole Lifeboats and two rescue helicopters (104 & 106) after a tender capsized in Poole Harbour leaving three persons in the water. Two were quite quickly recovered from the incident, but a third man was still missing resulting in the search operation being escalated. Swanage Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to search moorings and coastline inside Poole Harbour. Swanage All Weather Lifeboat was acting as ‘goalkeeper’ in the ebb tide, remaining in the vicinity of Poole Harbour entrance preventing anything passing out of the search area unseen. A drift marker was deployed just inside the harbour entrance to precisely gauge the state of the tide. After over 2 hours of exhaustive searching with nothing found the tide turned and began to flood back into the harbour. Shortly afterwards the operation was scaled down and both Lifeboats returned to Swanage, arriving back at the slipway at 1409hrs. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=704 Sun, 23 Dec 2012 11:45:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=703 Close to midnight, Portland Coastguard activated the Crew’s Pagers and requested the Swanage Inshore Lifeboat launch to help Police and Coastguards search for a man who had been threatening to harm himself. As the Inshore Lifeboat launched, the Police Helicopter ‘Police 1-0’ reported that the man was making his way along the north section of Swanage Beach, past Sheps Hollow. The Helicopter landed at Ocean Bay (taking advantage of the low tide) and crew followed on foot. The ILB was quickly on scene at Sheps Hollow and found the gentlemen. He was persuaded to take a ride in the ILB back to the aircraft where he was airlifted to hospital for a check over. All kit and crew were then gathered before the ILB returned to the boathouse and was made ready for further service http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=703 Sat, 8 Dec 2012 23:53:00 +0000 http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=702 Continuing a busy day for the volunteer crew of the Swanage Lifeboats, the Inshore Lifeboat was again launched this afternoon, this time to the aid of 2 kayakers in distress south of Anvil Point. A person working at the lighthouse had been watching the kayakers and realised that they appeared to be flashing a light towards the shore. The Swanage Coastguard were called and the kayakers began to wave as soon as the Coastguard's blue lights were visible. The ILB found the 2 casualties, who by this time had drifted a further mile west due to the ebb tide, and began a slow tow back to Swanage. The All Weather Lifeboat was on standby at this time, in case the ILB wanted to evacuate the casualties to concentrate on the tow. At 1541hrs the kayaks, casualties and Lifeboat were all safely back at Swanage. http://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/home/launch.asp?ID=702 Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:52:00 +0000