While assisting a woman with a suspected broken arm at Peveril Point, the Swanage Coastguard team were called to help a woman in considerable pain, who had fallen off her bike at the top of Ballard Down, across the other side of town.
Swanage Coastguard on Sunday 25th April 2021 were initially flagged down to help a woman who had slipped on the rocks at Peveril Point and hurt her arm, but as they were attending to her, they got a second call.
The Swanage Coastguard vehicle at the top of Ballard Down overlooking Swanage Bay
Fallen awkwardly
While strapping her arm into a splint and waiting with the woman until transport to hospital could be arranged, the rest of the coastguard team were paged to a cyclist who had fallen awkwardly near the top of Ballard Down.
Ballard Down is the chalk headland between Swanage and Studland – a popular place for walking, cycling and viewing the Old Harry Rocks.
After a quick reshuffle of cars to free up the 4×4 coastguard vehicle from the incident at Peveril Point, the Swanage crew, supported by colleagues from nearby St Albans Coastguard, made its way to Ballard Down and soon located the injured cyclist.
Ballard Down viewed from Swanage Beach
“In considerable pain and starting to feel the effects of the cold”
Swanage Coastguard reported:
“The injury was treated as a broken leg, and the lady was soon made stable on our stretcher before she was carried to the top of the hill and into a waiting vehicle to take her back to Studland.
“After a lengthy wait, during which time the team continued to look after the lady who was in considerable pain and starting to feel the effects of the cold, an ambulance arrived and she was passed into the care of the ambulance service for onward transfer to Poole General Hospital.”
