A yacht issued a Mayday distress call near St Alban’s Head along the Purbeck Coast, after one of its crew lost part of his finger and severely damaged two more.
The Swanage all weather lifeboat was launched just after 3 pm on Saturday 11th June 2022 to attend to the sailor who was in ‘considerable pain’ following the injury.
Swanage Lifeboat crew transferring kit to the yacht
“Considerable pain”
Swanage Lifeboat Station said:
“The yacht was quickly located and two crew members trained in casualty care were put aboard to assess the yachtsman’s injury.
“The man was in considerable pain as he had lost part of one of his fingers and severely damaged two more. He was given Entonox for the pain and the wound was cleaned and dressed.”
Handed over to ambulance paramedics
As this was being done, the yacht continued towards Swanage where an ambulance was requested to meet the casualty at the lifeboat station.
Rather than risk a transfer at sea, the man was left on his boat until they were in the calm waters of Swanage Bay.
He was then brought safely aboard the lifeboat, taken ashore then handed to ambulance paramedics, when they arrived about 30 minutes later.
Swanage Lifeboat Station
Windsurfer in difficulty at Kimmeridge
Less than three hours later, at about 5.30 pm on the same afternoon, both Swanage lifeboats were called by the coastguard to go to Kimmeridge, following reports that a windsurfer was in difficulty.
Swanage’s all weather lifeboat was just about to enter Poole Harbour where it was to be swapped for a relief lifeboat, so it could get some maintenance jobs done.
Kimmeridge Coastguard searched the coastline for the windsurfer who was reported to be in difficulty
Safely ashore
Hearing of the incident, it turned round, while the inshore lifeboat launched and they both headed for Kimmeridge.
Fortunately shortly after the crews arrived, it was confirmed by Kimmeridge Coastguard that the windsurfer had made it safely ashore, so both boats returned to Swanage.
