2012 Incident #52 07.09.12 2320UTC #4107

The whole Coastguard team was asked to assist the police with the search for a missing 14 year old local schoolboy. The boy had last been seen near Lyme Regis Football club at 1800BST and he was reported him missing at 2130BST. It was understood that he was trying to get to Charmouth but had become lost. An initial search by the local police officers and the police helicopter had failed to locate him. The coastguard put three search parties in the area. Within half an hour, he was spotted from the cliff edge stranded in the middle of Black Venn. 6 coastguards and 2 officers, on foot, reached the schoolboy after 2.5 hours of struggling through 1km of very dense undergrowth. The ‘casualty’ was uninjured albeit cold, in shock and with many cuts & grazes. Due to the extreme terrain and the impenetrable undergrowth, the only safe way off Black Venn was to use the coastguard helicopter. Coastguard Rescue 104 came from Lee on Solent, 1 hour flying time, and quickly lifted everybody to the safety of the golf course. Our thanks to the flight crew for their professionalism and expertise.

The schoolboy was checked over by the paramedics from SW Ambulance and was able to go home with his mother shortly afterwards.

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/localnews/9924217.Pierre_says_thanks_for_airlift_rescue_on_Jurassic_coastline/

2012 Incident #38 29.07.12 1656UTC #3054

The Initial Response Team, the IRT,was tasked to assist the RNLI with the rescue of a two people cut off by the tide at Church Cliffs, Lyme Regis.  They had climbed up onto the sea defence wall and were making their way up the cliff.  They did not realise that, despite their efforts, there was no safe exit.  The RNLI lifeboat crew got the couple on-board the boat.  The couple were returned to the harbour, safe and well.

2012 Incident #36 26.07.12 1103UTC #2940

The Initial Response Team, the IRT,was tasked to assist the police enforce the beach closures at Seatown. The County Council had shut the beaches following the recent tragic accident at Burton Bradstock.

2012 Incident #35 26.07.12 0905UTC #2936

The Initial Response Team, the IRT,was tasked to investigate a large cliff fall 400 metres to the east of the river Char. It was quickly established that there were no persons in the vicinity of the rock fall. Following the recent tragic accident at Burton Bradstock, the beaches had been temporarily closed and there were few people gathered on the beach.

2012 Incident #19 3.06.12 1528UTC #XXXX

The IRT was tasked to reports of a person , possibly cut off by the tide east of Charmouth. A tent and a person climbing the cliffs were just visible but due to the distance, incoming tide and the increasing swell it was decided to launch the lifeboat top confirm the situation. On reaching the scene, the crew of the lifeboat were able to confirm that it was a person fishing the incoming tide.

Happy New Year 2012 – Shoreline Competition

The local coastguard team at Lyme Regis has been involved a project that will see some 2,500 signs installed along the entire length of the 630-mile long South West Coast Path. The first 500 location signs, which help the Coastguard pinpoint exactly where an accident has taken place, have now been attached to existing waymark signs between Dawlish and Mevagissey by local volunteer Coastguard teams. A further 2,000 signs, each of which give a location name and its Ordnance Survey grid reference, are scheduled to go up over the next year; the 500th sign at Start Point, South Devon was recently installed.

Mick Cooke of the Brixham Coastguard came up with the idea and the project was been jointly sponsored by Endurancelife and the South West Coast Path Association. Mick recently said: “The sooner the Coastguard arrive at the scene of an accident, the better the likely outcome for the casualty, so these little signs could help save a life.” The South West Coast Path Association said the charity was pleased to be able to support the project. “Alongside the obvious safety benefits attached to the location signs, they are sure to be useful to walkers along the path, especially if they are unsure of which bay or headland they’ve arrived at.”

Andrew Barker of Endurancelife, which organises regular adventure challenge events along the Coast Path each year, added: “We have runners come from all over the UK and beyond, and the feedback we get is that it’s the stunning views from the path that brings them here. It’s an important part of our company’s ethos to put something back, and so in partnership with a couple of our corporate customers, RBS and Michelmore Solicitors, we are delighted to be able to support this really worthwhile project.”

The Coastguard has a long history of involvement with the Coast Path, as much of the route follows the paths created by the Coastguard in its original role as excise men, looking out for smugglers. Right up until 1913 the length of the path was regularly patrolled by the Coastguard in their constant struggle to apprehend lawbreakers. As they needed to look down into every bay and cove, the path closely hugs the coast providing excellent views but rarely the most direct path between two points. This forms the basis for the path that now gives pleasure to millions of people each year.

‘ Spot the Beauty spot’ Competition

This is one of the locations where we will be attaching a new SWCP sign, but can you work out where it is?  Better still, what’s the grid reference? We offer a £10 WH Smith voucher. Entries before 15th March. Email entries to editor@shoreline-charmouth.co.uk or by snail mail – The Moorings, Higher Sea Lane, Charmouth, DT6 6BD.

2011 Incident #55 13.12.11 0902UTC #5819

The IRT was tasked to investigate two 999 calls that indicated a male casualty was stuck & cut off by the tide east of Lyme Regis, between Church Cliffs and Black Ven.  Following the severe weather and gales overnight, the sea state was rough and members of the public were concerned for his safety.  The ‘target’ was located through the binoculars and appeared to be insistent on trying to  access the beach, dodging the breakers and the surf.  Since the coastguard were unable to reach the ‘casualty’ from land,  the IRT decided to ask the Coastguard helicopter, to fly over to ensure that the ‘casualty’ was indeed safe.   The ‘casualty’ was safe and was kept under observation for an hour to ensure he did not fall into the sea.  It was suspected that the individual was ‘fossiling’ and was overly keen to ensure that no ‘finds’ alluded him as the tide receded.

2011 Incident #54 12.12.11 1703UTC #5801

The IRT was tasked to assist the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team with the safe recovery of 8 50 calibre live shell cartridges that a local fishing trawler had caught in their nets.  On the stormiest evenings of the year, the ordnance was recovered from the vessel and transferred to the care of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operators.  The Royal Navy will identify the source of the cartridges and then safely dispose of them.

As a Coastguard team we are often involved in these types of incidents, our advice is this –

Never touch any ordnance
If you are not absolutely sure what the item is leave it exactly where it is.
Never transport the item to a Coastguard Station or Police Station

Phone 999 and ask for the Police (if the item is above the high water mark) or Coastguard (if below the high water mark)

2011 Incident #53 05.12.11 0830UTC #5736

The IRT was tasked to investigate the badly decomposed carcass of a porpoise found on Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis.  Following the initial investigation, the relevant authorities were organised to remove the carcass & discard it safely.

One of the roles of the Coastguard is to attend reports of any situations associated with ‘Royal Fish’.  ‘Royal Fish’ are sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins. (In Scotland, porpoises and dolphins, and whales, measuring less than 25 feet from snout to the middle of the tail, are not Royal Fish.) Our duties include reporting the incident to the ‘Receiver of Wreck’ who normally deals with ship wrecks. If the animal is alive, we normally liaise with the RSPCA.  Sadly, if it is dead the Receiver of the Wreck or the local coastguard team will arrange the safe removal of the carcass.  We also have to measure the ‘Royal Fish’ and make some judgement as to the likely cause and this information is passed to the Natural History Museum.

2011 Incident #52 02.12.11 1458UTC #5726

The IRT was tasked to help with the rescue of a male casualty in his fifties who had slipped on Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis and dislocated his ankle.  The Devon Air ambulance, Helimed 71, was sent to recover the gentleman since it was suspected that the fracture was serious.  The casualty was airlifted to Dorchester Hospital. The coastguard team send our best wishes to the couple who were vsiting Lyme as a break from recent hospital treatment.