After a mother reported that her children hadn’t returned from swimming in Swanage Bay, the inshore lifeboat was launched to help look for them.
The search was sparked at around 5 pm on Saturday 14th August 2022, shortly after the crew had finished organising the fundraising duck race in town for Swanage Lifeboat Week.
“Two children had gone for a swim”
Swanage Lifeboat Station reported:
“Some of the lifeboat crew were already at the lifeboat station cleaning down their kit after a very successful duck race when their pagers rang out.
“The UK Coastguard had received a ‘999’ call from a mother whose two children had gone for a swim along Swanage Beach but were now overdue.
“The inshore lifeboat was quickly afloat and heading to the scene along with the volunteers from Swanage Coastguard.”
The beach was busy following the end of the duck race
Spotted on the beach
The lifeboat crew and the coastguard searched along the bay and about 10 minutes later, two children matching the description were spotted on the beach.
A lifeboat crew member went ashore and was able to confirm that, happily, the two missing children had been found.
“Reunited with their mother”
Swanage Lifeboat Station added:
“They had swum further than expected and had decided to walk back to their parents, which was taking longer than they thought.
“The two were reunited with their mother at the lifeguard tower on the main beach and with the situation resolved the lifeboat was released to return to station.”
The ducks at the start of the race
Swanage Lifeboat Week
Earlier that day, the traditional duck race to raise funds for the RNLI had taken place in Swanage.
The yellow plastic ducks, each sponsored for £2, started their journey by the Post Office and floated down the Swan Brook to the sea. The first three to cross the finishing line at The Mowlem won their sponsors a cash prize.
And they are off!
All 2,300 yellow ducks were sponsored
With the race unable to go ahead in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, plenty of people wanted to join in and all 2,300 yellow ducks were sponsored, boosting RNLI funds by an impressive £4,600.
Swanage Lifeboat Week continues with a chance to see the lifeboat launch on Thursday 18th August 2022 at 6.15 pm and again on Sunday 21st August 2022 from 12 noon.
Volunteers collect up the ducks at the end of the race to prevent them heading out to sea
Swanage Lifeboat Week events for the rest of the week August 2022
Thursday 18th
- Lifeboat launch from Swanage Lifeboat Station at 6.15 pm
- Swanage Sailing Club senior race from 6.15 pm
- Gig race from Main Beach from 6 pm
- Fun quiz at the Swanage Legion in the High Street starting at 8 pm. Teams of up to six – £3 a person
Friday 19th
- Flag day street collection in town in the morning
- Live music, bar and food from 6 pm at Prince Albert Gardens
Saturday 20th
- Lifeboat festival and fair from 11 am at Prince Albert Gardens including Swanage Bay Fish lobster raffle draw at 1 pm, ‘build a boat’ competition with race at 4 pm and live music, bar and food from 6 pm
Sunday 21st
- RNLI boathouse open day with lifeboat launches from 12 noon
- Lifeboat service from 4 pm at Swanage Pier
