Inflatables drifting out to sea with kids, spark emergency call
By Helen ffitch 6 July 2020, 7:00 am
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Poole RNLI
Two inflatable dinghies blown out to sea off the Studland coast with two adults and three children, initiated an emergency response on Sunday 5th July 2020, including three lifeboats, Swanage Coastguard and a rescue helicopter.
With reports that the people were now in the water, both the Swanage inshore lifeboat (ILB) and the Shannon all weather lifeboat quickly launched at 2.20 pm and headed towards Old Harry Rocks.
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Meanwhile, a local boat has been able to rescue the people, recover both the dinghies and get them back to shore safely. The Swanage and Poole Lifeboat crews were able to confirm the safety of the casualties and liaised with Swanage Coastguard on Studland’s Middle Beach.
24 ft yacht with a broken mast
The Swanage Lifeboat crew then returned to the lifeboat house, only to be called out again to reports that a 24 ft yacht, heading towards Poole Harbour, had a broken mast.
This time, the Poole Lifeboat was on the scene quickly and it was able to tow the yacht back into the harbour, allowing the Swanage crew to again return to base.
Poole RNLI
Poole RNLI tows the yacht back into Poole Harbour
“Please know your limits”
Poole Lifeboat volunteer helm, Jonathan Clark said:
“It’s been a busy few days for us, with some different incidents and situations. It’s been bright but the conditions have been blustery. If you are heading out on the water, please know your limits and don’t put yourself at risk, stay safe.”
For the third day running Poole Lifeboat was requested to launch by the UK coastguard just after 2pm on Sunday (July 5) to a report of 5 people in or on, an inflatable clinging to a buoy in Studland Bay.The lifeboat launched immediately and made good speed; Swanage Lifeboat had also been tasked. Whilst on route information came through over the radio that a passing vessel had responded and had helped the casualties ashore, the Coastguard requested that the lifeboat crew continue to the scene and check that they were all accounted for.A member of crew went ashore at Middle Beach and checked that the casualties were all safe which they were, Swanage volunteer search and rescue Coastguards also attended.The crew member returned to the lifeboat from Middle Beach and the lifeboat had began to return to station, when on route they came across a broken-down jet ski that was undertow by a speedboat, the lifeboat checked that they were okay and happy to continue, which they were.Conditions in Poole Bay were choppy, with a bracing westerly wind, registering a force 6.As the lifeboat headed back into the harbour, they were re-tasked by the Coastguard to assist a 24ft yacht with one person on-board that had dis-masted near the South Hook Buoy, which is just south of the Hook sands.The lifeboat went alongside and transferred a member of crew across, who checked that the skipper was okay and then prepared the yacht to be towed back in with the mast and rigging trailing underneath.A tow line was attached, and the lifeboat brought the stricken vessel into the harbour and on to its mooring off Shell Bay Marine.The crew then hauled in the damaged mast, which was broken in several places, and secured and stowed away the sails, that were still attached with the rigging into the yacht.With the vessel safe on its mooring, the lifeboat returned to station after a thorough wash down and then refuel the lifeboat was ready for service by 6pm.Poole Lifeboat volunteer Helm Jonathan Clark said, ‘Its been a busy few days for us, with some different incidents and situations, it’s been bright but the conditions have been blustery, If you are heading out on the water, please know your limits and don't put yourself at risk, stay safe'.
In a further incident for the emergency services during yesterday’s busy afternoon, Swanage Coastguard was called to a report of a dog that had fallen from the cliffs out towards Old Harry Rocks.
Despite the fall, the dog survived without any injuries and managed to get to Studland’s South Beach, where it was met by the coastguard patrol and its relieved owners.
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