Two people who had been knocked off their jetski by a wave and were being pulled out to sea in rough weather, were lucky to be safely rescued by the Swanage lifeboat crew, after being spotted by eagle-eyed walkers at Old Harry near Swanage in Dorset.
The incident on Saturday 29th August 2026, which also involved the coastguard search and rescue helicopter, was one of four rescues by the Swanage Lifeboat Station over the bank holiday weekend, as the calm waters of the summer, gave way to strong winds and choppy seas.
The Swanage all weather lifeboat headed over towards Old Harry to rescue the jetskiers
Harriet Long was walking up to Old Harry with her husband Jamie Price when he spotted the abandoned jetski and two people being swept out to sea
Uninjured despite the danger
The Swanage all weather lifeboat launched just before 2 pm after the walkers called 999 and contacted the coastguard.
One of the walkers, Harriet Long who was visiting from Kent, told Swanage.News:
“We happened to be walking along the clifftop at Old Harry rocks and called the coastguard when we saw an abandoned jetski out to sea, and two people drifting in pretty rough seas, a long way from the jetski.
“My husband Jamie Price was the one who spotted them and then quickly saw how far they were drifting from the jet ski in the heavy winds.
“I then called the coastguard and we were able to give them a fairly accurate location using What Three Words. Jack from the emergency line asked us to try and keep an eye on where they were but that definitely got harder as the weather front came in.
“We waited until we saw they had been picked up by the lifeboat which was about 20 minutes from my initial call – it was impressive to see how quickly both the boat and helicopter got out there.
“We saw the helicopter ‘spotting’ the jetski for the boat to also pick up. We’re glad they were unharmed as I imagine it was tough staying afloat in the rough seas and they must have been very scared not knowing help was on its way!”
The two jetskiers were quickly hauled into the lifeboat and as as they were uninjured despite the danger they had been in, the lifeboat was able to take them back to their yacht moored in Studland Bay.
With the help of the coastguard search and rescue helicopter circling above, the lifeboat crew found the jetski and removed it from the shipping channel. It was then towed back to its owners.
The Swanage all weather lifeboat was quick to get to the scene
The coastguard search and rescue helicopter helped the lifeboat retrieve the jetski, now drifting into the shipping channel
Yacht drifting close to the cliffs
The busy weekend had started on Friday 28th August 2026 just after 12 noon when it was reported that a 30 foot yacht was in distress, its engine had failed, and it was now drifting close to the cliffs at Worbarrow Tout.
The all weather lifeboat launched into the rough seas with the conditions only worsening as it went round St Alban’s Head.
With four people and a dog on board the yacht, the priority was to get them away from the cliffs and to safety. It was decided to tow the yacht away from the coastline, so a lifeboat volunteer crew member bravely leapt aboard as the boats rocked in the choppy water and then established a towline.
Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:
“Slow but steady westerly progress was made into the wind and sea, although conditions on the yacht were uncomfortable with jammed sails tearing in the wind.
“Discussions with the coastguard concluded that handing the tow over to Weymouth lifeboat was the best option and the Severn class Weymouth boat launched, meeting up at around 2.30 pm.”
This allowed the all weather lifeboat to return to Swanage after their nail-biting rescue.
The yacht was towed away from the cliffs by the Swanage all weather lifeboat at Worborrow Tout
Every year Swanage Lifeboat Week holds events to raise money to enable the station to continue its rescues at sea
Yacht engine failed in shipping lane
Over the bank holiday weekend, there were two more yacht rescues in separate incidents.
On Sunday 30th August 2026, the lifeboat crew was paged just before 11 pm to rescue a 43 foot yacht whose engine had failed and had a broken boom.
It was dangerously anchored at the entrance to the Swash Channel – the busy shipping channel leading into Poole Harbour – and the cross channel ferry the Levante Jet, was fast approaching.
Conditions on the deck of the lifeboat were not easy with strong winds and torrential showers testing the crew’s resilience, so the lifeboat crew made the quick decision to cut the yacht free from its anchor as soon as the tow line had been secured.
The yacht was then safely towed into Studland Bay and out of harm’s way.
On Monday 31st August 2026, another yacht had suffered engine failure – this time in Poole Bay. So just after 2.30 pm the Swanage all weather lifeboat launched again.
The 36 foot yacht was secured to an eco mooring in Studland Bay, where it waited for the maritime rescue service Sea Start to come and fix its engine.
The Swanage all weather lifeboat didn’t spend that much time in its boathouse over the bank holiday weekend
“Challenging conditions”
A spokesperson for Swanage Lifeboat Station said:
“We’ve had a busy last week of the holidays with a number of callouts in challenging conditions caused by strong winds and large tides.
“When launching into rough seas and strong winds, the volunteers’ boat handling skills are really put to the test and simple tasks like passing a tow line are much more difficult. Fortunately, we were able to reach all of this weekend’s casualties quickly and recover them to safety.
“A reminder to anyone taking to the water to always carry a means for calling for help, always check the weather and tides, always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid and to let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.”
The top of the cliff at Chapman’s Pool had crumbled down the slope
Landslips more likely as rain returns
There were also warnings from St Albans Head coastguard over the weekend, after a section of a cliff collapsed at Chapman’s Pool, close to the South West Coast Path.
With the prolonged period of hot, dry weather, followed by heavy showers, walkers should be aware that the cliffs along the Purbeck coastline are likely to be unstable.
Inspecting the rock fall on Sunday 30th August 2026, the coastguard reported:
“St Albans coastguard team have today been out to the Chapman’s Pool area to inspect the cliff fall reported on the Dorset Council Facebook page.
“We can now report the correct location and give updated advice to coastal users in the area. The fall affects the cliff overlooking Chapman’s pool, known as Emmetts Hill on the OS map, and the What3Words location of disarmed.helper.thumb.
“We ask that all persons using this section of the South West Coast Path, between St Alban’s Head and Chapman’s Pool, do so with care. There are no closures in place at this time.”
The cliff collapse at Chapman’s Pool was near to the South West Coast Path
