Both Swanage lifeboats went to the aid of a climber who had fallen a reported seven metres from a cliff onto rocks, just west of Anvil Point along the Purbeck coastline.
The St Albans coastguard also headed to the incident, which happened just after 2 pm on Sunday 27th April 2025.
The Swanage inshore lifeboat heads round to Anvil Point while the all weather lifeboat on the ramps, prepares to launch
Suspected broken ankle
The man from the Wareham area, had a suspected broken ankle but despite his painful injury had been able to wave to a passing boat to radio for assistance. His climbing partner also went back up the rock face to get help.
Both the inshore lifeboat (ILB) and the all weather lifeboat (ALB) were able to be on the scene within 10 minutes, while the coastguard team monitored the situation from above the cliff.
Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:
“The climber had fallen from around seven metres, when some gear failed, injuring his ankle. He had managed to climb back to a ledge to wait for help.
“His climbing partner had ascended the cliff to raise the alarm and the fallen climber had also waved for assistance to the passing vessel Three Wishes.
“Due to the location of the climber the best route of extraction was by water. The Helm, Fergus Holley, made a careful approach in gentle rolling swell so that the ILB was alongside the rocks.
“The casualty was able to move over the rocks to the water’s edge with minimal assistance from the crew to the waiting ILB and make a quick transfer onto the lifeboat.”
The man’s injuries are assessed by the lifeboat crew at the bottom of the cliff
Taken by lifeboat to waiting ambulance
The man was then transferred from the inshore lifeboat onto the all weather lifeboat and then taken back to the Swanage RNLI boat house, where an ambulance was waiting to take him by road to hospital.
Meanwhile St Albans coastguard gave the other climber a lift back to his car after an eventful Sunday afternoon.
A Swanage RNLI spokesperson added:
“We hope the climber makes a good recovery.”
Friday’s launch to kayakers in difficulties, saw both lifeboats set off together
Group of kayakers in difficulty
This was the second call out for Swanage RNLI in three days, after a group of six kayakers got into difficulty just off St Alban’s Head, near Worth Matravers.
Again, both lifeboats were launched, this time just after 11 am on Friday 25th April 2025 after receiving a broken 999 call from the kayakers.
At least one kayaker had capsized in the choppy sea on a strong ebb tide but by the time the lifeboats spotted the group, they had made it safely to the shoreline at Pier Bottom to the west of St Alban’s Head.
The crew from the inshore lifeboat went ashore to check the kayakers and found all six were fine, experienced and well-equipped.
As the group was happy to make their own way back to Swanage after a break and when the tide allowed, the lifeboats headed back to the Swanage RNLI boathouse.
Watch launch to kayakers on Swanage RNLI webcam
Further information
- More about Swanage RNLI
