A multi-agency response was deployed following reports of a missing person in the Dancing Ledge area just along the coastline from Swanage in Dorset.
In order to search the shoreline, the Swanage all weather lifeboat launched at 3.44 pm on Saturday 7th June 2025, while officers from Dorset Police and coastguard teams from Swanage and St Albans scoured the cliffs.
Swanage’s all weather lifeboat and the coastguard combined forces with Purbeck Police to search for the missing person
Several heavy downpours
Thunderstorms had been forecast to last all day, leading to the cancellation by the Alzheimer’s Society of an organised fundraising walk Trek26, scheduled to take place along the Purbeck coastline.
However in the end, much of the rain skirted north of Swanage but by late afternoon there were several heavy downpours, increasing the concern for the missing person.
The coastline around Dancing Ledge looks idyllic on a sunny day but can be desolate in bad weather
“Located safe and well”
Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:
“Once on the scene, a slow search of the shoreline was carried out along with volunteers from Swanage and St Albans coastguard teams who were searching the cliff tops.
“After 10 minutes of searching information was received that the missing person had been located safe and well by officers from Dorset Police. With the situation resolved the lifeboat was released to return to Swanage.”
Purbeck Police added:
“The weather conditions were awful and it was not a day to be on top of a cliff, but thankfully the person was located safe and well.”
