Shouts

Date

Brief Description

Further Details

Our friendly DLA didn’t let us down and, after washing the lifeboats and refuelling, the crew were greeted with chocolate doughnuts!

2250 The ILB launched to a report of a person, possibly suicidal, in the water west of Bournemouth Pier. As the inshore lifeboat reached the Chain Ferry, Portland Coastguard informed the crew that the person was out of the water and that they could return to station. They had refuelled and made the boat ready for the next shout by 2330.

Earlier in the day both the all-weather and inshore lifeboat crews had paid their respects to the Service men and women who had lost their lives in conflict, past and present.

1520 A member of the public, who had been windsurfing off Hamworthy, called into the lifeboat station to report that he had seen a kitesurfer across at Long Island for an hour who appeared to be unable to make his own way back across the harbour. The station mechanic telephoned Portland Coastguard to inform them and they requested the launch of the inshore lifeboat. At the same time the Coastguard were receiving reports of a speedboat aground in the entrance to the Wareham Channel.

The ILB launched to check out the kitesurfer first. He informed them that he needed no medical or other assistance and so the ILB was then tasked to locate the speedboat. The lifeboat crew found the boat and three people onboard aground just outside the Channel, passed a tow line and started towing them back towards Cobbs Quay. While underway, the speedboat crew managed to start their engine and were then able to make their own way back.

The Coastguard also reported that there was possibly an overdue vessel from Swanage to look out for but within 10 minutes they informed the lifeboat crew that the vessel had been found and that they could return to station. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for the next launch an hour after launching.

1630 As a squall came through, with a wind gust of 54mph, a kitesurfer was in trouble off Whitley Lake. The inshore lifeboat was launched but as the crew radioed to Portland Coastguard for further information they were informed that the kitesurfer had managed to sort himself out and was safely ashore. The inshore lifeboat returned to station two minutes after launching!

1100 In gale force south westerly winds, gusting up to 48 mph, several large yachts were racing in Poole Bay on the first Sunday after the end of British Summer time. A report had come through that a 12m yacht, with seven people onboard, had been dismasted and was struggling against the choppy seas. An accompanying safety boat managed to get a line onboard but, due to the strength of the wind, the size of the yacht and the fact that part of the mast had gone under the hull, it was struggling to hold them off the notorious Hook Sands. Further information

1200 After a very quiet month, when the crew were starting to wonder if their pagers were still working, the bleeping sound brought the crew from their places of work to the station. On a clear but cold day, with a fresh easterly breeze, a kitesurfer had been reported in trouble off Branksome Chine. The inshore lifeboat crew rushed to get kitted up and had just stepped out of the crew room on their way to the lifeboat when a second page was received to cancel the launch. The kitesurfer had been able to get to shore safely. So one month on, the two lifeboats have (thankfully) only launched to go on exercise.

The next ALB exercise is on Wednesday 24 October at 1900.

1200 Poole’s all-weather lifeboat had launched for an engine run following some maintenance and was heading out of the harbour when another lifeboat from one of the South division’s lifeboat stations called Portland Coastguard to say they had engine problems. They were also in Poole Bay carrying out engine trials. Poole lifeboat was tasked to go alongside and pass over their CO2 fire extinguisher as a precautionary measure. The other station lifeboat then shut down one of its engines and headed back to Poole Headquarters Depot to check out the problem. Poole’s ALB carried on with its engine trials and then returned to station at 1245.

9 Sept

1430 While the ILB was on exercise the lifeboat crew came across the Lifeboat Operations Manager, who was out for a day’s sail with his family. His yacht had suffered engine failure and as there was no wind he requested a tow as part of the exercise. The crew dutifully carried out an alongside tow back to Poole Yacht Club where they suggested that he should book an RNLI Sea Check!

On their return from the yacht club the ILB was then tasked to a 9m motor cruiser that had broken down. They towed this back to Cobbs Quay and then returned to station at 1745.

0535 Just as the sun was rising (but with most of the lifeboat crew still tucked up in their beds) the pagers called the crew to the station. One of the ferries had spotted a boat drifting out of the harbour so the inshore lifeboat launched to investigate. After a very short time it was realised that it was someone out enjoying his early morning fishing and so the lifeboat returned to station five minutes later.

2120 Both lifeboats were paged to a medical evacuation in Blood Alley off the south side of Brownsea Island. The skipper of a yacht had stumbled down some steps into the galley and had hit his chest and was suffering from chest pain. After being given oxygen, the gentleman was able to walk onto the lifeboat before being taken to the Haven where a waiting ambulance was then able to take him to hospital. Both lifeboats returned to station at 2245.

1434 The ILB launched to a speedboat with engine failure that had drifted towards the Training Bank. They had started to take on water so two of the inshore lifeboat crew took the salvage pump onboard to pump out the water. The five people onboard were then transferred to a passing Trent class lifeboat and a tow was rigged by the ILB. The speedboat was then towed back to Cobbs Quay.

0110 After gale force winds and rain the previous day, the pagers summoned the crew in the early hours of the morning. Both lifeboats were launched to the pilot boat Vandyke that had reported a fire onboard. The pilot boat had gone out with one pilot, a coxswain and one crew member onboard for the pilot to board the Condor ferry on its arrival near Bar Buoy. The pilot had gone aboard the ferry when the boat reported a fire and loss of engines. Condor ferry had tried to fire a rocket line to the boat but was unable to establish contact due to the wind conditions.

The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene where the pilot boat had drifted out of the main channel north of Hook Sands. The fire had gone out but there was still a lot of smoke in the cabin. The ILB crew threw a tow rope to the pilot boat and a tow was established just as the ALB arrived on scene. The tow was then transferred to the ALB while the ILB managed to go alongside in the heavy swell to take the two crew off.

The ILB took the two crew members back to the Haven where an ambulance and paramedics met them. They were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke and one of them was kept in hospital for 24 hours for monitoring.

The ALB then towed the boat back into Poole Harbour where it was met by the fire brigade and Poole Harbour Commissioners personnel. Both boats were then ready for service again at 0400.

1255 In gusting wind conditions, with a slight swell, the ILB was launched to a 3m broken down speedboat off Durley Chine. With two people onboard, the boat was towed back to Baiter Park slipway where it was met by Poole Coastguard.

1345 The ALB was diverted to help search for a broken down speedboat. The two persons onboard had phoned the Coastguard on their mobile phone but were unable to continue as their battery on their phone had run out. They were unsure of their position and so both the inshore lifeboat and ALB carried out a search to locate them. The speedboat was located south of Brownsea Island and towed by the ILB to Baiter Park slipway.

1305 The all-weather lifeboat launched to a report of a vessel on fire just inside the harbour’s entrance. Once on scene it was realised that the 8m ski boat’s engine had overheated. The Harbour Master’s vessel, Vigilant, was alongside and had taken the two people onboard. The ALB put a tow onboard the ski boat, took the two people aboard the lifeboat and then towed the boat to Mitchell’s boatyard.

1755 After a report from one of the ferries, the ILB launched to a swimmer reportedly clinging onto one of the stakes just outside the harbour. Once on scene the ILB started a search of the area but the swimmer had already made it ashore. The lifeboat returned to station at 1820.

During the shout a film crew had turned up to make a Goodyear tyres advert so were able to film a ‘real’ shout in action.

2315 Both lifeboats were launched for a medical evacuation of a lady on Brownsea Island who had been in a deep sleep for the previous 2 hours. The inshore lifeboat made its way to the chain ferry steps to pick up two paramedics, while the all-weather lifeboat made its way direct to the island.

Once at the island two inshore lifeboat crew, along with the paramedics and National Trust wardens, made their way to a clearing on the island where the lady had been attending an outdoor theatre event.

The paramedics administered some glucose and another drug before placing her on a spine board and bringing her back to the jetty. The all-weather lifeboat then took her across to the ambulance at the ferry steps where she was taken to hospital. Both boats then returned to station at 0100.

0730 Poole all-weather lifeboat launched at 0730 to assist Mudeford lifeboat, which had been called out to save a 13m Sunseeker yacht that had got stuck fast on the rocks at Christchurch Head.

It was feared that the Sunseeker was badly damaged and had done some serious damage to the port side outdrive. Poole lifeboat towed the stricken boat back to Poole and they arrived back at 1030. Further information

1215 The ILB launched to a broken down jetski with three persons onboard. Two of the people had been picked up by a Tamar class lifeboat (on trials in Poole Bay) while the third person remained onboard trying to restart the jetski. The two people (one adult and a child) were passed over to Poole ILB and were taken back to Baiter slipway where the Coastguard were waiting for them. The jetski was able to make its own way back to the slipway. The ILB returned to station at 1250.

Both lifeboats then returned to station just after midnight.

1830 At the end of a blustery, showery day, the pagers went off for the ILB to launch to a report of two teenagers who had not returned from their day out. The two lads had taken their 3m boat with outboard engine for a trip in the harbour. However, it soon became apparent that they had gone as far as Boscombe Pier (far too far for this unsuitable boat) and had later been escorted back into Poole Harbour by Poole lifeguards. Their concerned parents had reported them as being overdue as they had still not returned back to Redclyffe Yacht Club in the Wareham Channel. Read more about the rescue here

0020 Deep from their sweet dreams, the crew were woken by their pagers going off for the all-weather lifeboat to launch. An Oyster 54 yacht was at anchor in Studland Bay when they sent a Pan Pan radio message: the skipper had slipped down some steps into the main cabin and had gashed his head. The three other crew members onboard were very concerned as he seemed to be losing a lot of blood and they were unable to stop the bleeding.

The all-weather lifeboat launched at 0035 with nine crew members onboard – more were taken than usual as it was a calm night and it was anticipated that several hands would be needed to lift the casualty off the yacht. You can read more about the rescue here

1040 The inshore lifeboat launched to a person in the water in Wych Channel who was found near the fuel barge. He had gone in the water to try to release an anchor but had been carried away by the tide. He was taken back to his vessel by the ILB.

1430 Both boats launched to a Pan Pan (a very urgent radio message concerning the safety of a ship, aircraft, vehicle or person) from two boats aground on the Training Bank. When the ILB arrived on scene they found one yacht still aground. The ILB assisted by putting a crewman aboard, fixing a towline, then pulling the yacht clear. The Pan Pan was cancelled and the ALB was stood down. The ILB towed the stricken vessel back into deeper water.

2 June

1603 Another beautiful calm day in Poole saw both boats being launched to a report of a person with a spinal injury in Studland Bay. A Mayday was called on channel 16 from a 14m Princess motor yacht, reporting that a woman had sustained a back injury whilst out on 2m inflatable which was the tender to the Princess. When the ILB arrived on scene they found the woman in a lot of pain and unable to move. Whiskey Bravo the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Portland had also arrived on scene.

1812 ILB launched to a report of a person in the water off Rockley. Sadly the person had been in the water for some tim and so there was nothing that the crew could do for him except bring him home. The ILB crew brought the deceased man back to shore, where the police were in attendance. The ILB was then tasked to search the surrounding area to look for a vessel, a dinghy or for some clue as to what may have happened. They found a tender washed up at Gold Point. The Marine Police are now investigating this incident. Our thoughts are with the deceased's family.

The lifeboat crew managed to ‘walk’ the yacht across the mud flats on its ‘wings’ and once back in deep water they then escorted it back to Poole Yacht Club before returning to station.

1541 Two girls, reported stuck in the mud in Holes Bay, were rescued by the inshore lifeboat. The ILB found them (not stuck) within 30 seconds of launching and took them back to the boathouse. The local Coastguards gave them a safety talk before they left the boathouse.

1456 Three people were in difficulty in the water near Old Harry rocks after their personal watercraft (PWC) started to sink. The crew of a passing yacht managed to recover them from the water, although they were very cold. The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene and took the casualties onboard and took the PWC in tow. As they were returning, one of the casualties became increasingly quiet and his feet were turning blue. They were concerned about them becoming hypothermic and so requested the launch (at 1535) of the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) to take them onboard.

The two teenagers were transferred to the ALB while the father stayed with the ILB. The PWC was then towed back to Hamworthy by the ILB where it was found to have a split in the drive system causing water to be pumped into the engine compartment.

The ALB took the two teenagers back to Poole lifeboat station to warm up and, after sorting out the PWC, the father collected them from the boathouse.

1750 Later in the day a canoe had capsized on Hook Sands, throwing the two people in the water, The Harbour Patrol vessel Vigilant rescued the two people and towed the canoe back inside the harbour. The two people were then able to get back into their canoe and the inshore lifeboat escorted them into Whitley Lake where it was too shallow for Vigilant to enter. The canoeists were met ashore by the local Coastguard team.

The ILB was then tasked to another incident.

1820 Another personal watercraft had broken down off Bournemouth Pier with one person onboard. The inshore lifeboat took the PWC back to Baiter Park where the casualty’s brother met the lifeboat with a trailer. The lifeboat then returned to station at 1916, over four hours after their first launch that day.

The lifeboat then continued to tow the original vessel to Salterns Marina where they were met by the local Coastguard team at 1855.

As the lifeboat was due to return to station the crew were then retasked to meet up with Swanage all-weather lifeboat and take over the tow of another casualty. The two people onboard were taken onto the lifeboat and the vessel was then towed to Poole Quay. When they reached Poole Bridge, they were unable to continue due to the hard ebb tide and lack of water. An inshore lifeboat crew (who were at the boathouse) were requested to launch to take over the tow for the final leg up to Cobbs Quay. Once the casualty was safely alongside the ILB returned to station.

The all-weather lifeboat returned to station at 2000 and the ILB at 2025.

The ALB then continued on to the original casualty, which was slowly making way against the tide. The two people onboard had rigged a towing bridle ready for the arrival of the lifeboat, so they could attach a towline. After dropping the sails, the yacht was then towed to Dolphin Haven.

After X-rays and scans, Paul was found to have a compressed fracture of the spine. He spent 2 weeks in hospital, and is now at home recovering. He is only able to walk and lie down at the moment, with short spells of sitting, and he has to wear a brace for at least 6 weeks. He has weekly X-rays and check-ups, and will follow this with physiotherapy.

All at the station wish him well and can’t wait to hear his dulcet tones at the station again and more importantly on the lifeboats.

Both of the Poole RNLI lifeboats were launched early this morning to a report of a ketch on fire at the back of the harbour. When the Inshore Lifeboat arrived on scene they found a 40ft ketch with two people onboard, just off the Wytch Channel, there was smoke billowing from the vessel. Volunteer senior helmsman Paul Singleton said “ when we arrived on scene there was a lot of thick smoke which smelt awful”.

0430 Both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched to reports of red flares sighted at the entrance of the harbour. One was sighted from the cardiac ward at Poole hospital! Another report came from the watch officer onboard the Prince William sail training ship moored on the quay.
After an extensive search of the harbour, Shell bay and Studland nothing untoward was found. The ILB asked an angler, who was on the shore night fishing, if he had seen any red fares. He answered that he hadn't but he had seen a group of kids ‘up to no good’. Following this conversation the ILB crew saw some youths in Studland car park. They found them to be very cold and they told the lifeboat crew that they had missed the late ferry crossing back to the Haven and were stuck on the Shell bay side. They had taken shelter in a boatyard and found the flares on a boat and had set one off; they didn’t have any more flares on them. The coastguards and police followed up their story and both lifeboats were stood down and were back at station at about 7am.

Both boats were launched at night following a report of red flares but nothing untoward was found, suggesting a hoax. Coxswain Jonathan Clark said: ‘When there is a report of red flares we have to go and do a thorough search because you never know.
The ILB launched again later in the morning to a report of a person in the water off the Marine Camp. He had capsized his dinghy after being swamped by a wave and he was very cold but after his boat was righted he made his own way back to shore.
The weather was fresh in the harbour with a few swells and a biting wind from the WNW, which the windsurfers and kitesurfers were enjoying. Then a kitesurfer off Sandbanks required help when he dislocated his knee cap, The ILB gave him oxygen, strapped his knee and called for an ambulance. He was extremely cold and in severe pain. When the ambulance arrived at Shore Road the crew handed him over and he was taken to Poole hospital.

Poole’s Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat was out on exercise on Saturday morning when they came across a 45 gallon drum and 100s of bottles of hair shampoo floating in Poole Bay from the stricken cargo ship MSC Napoli, which had beached off the Devon coast. The crew reported the drum to the Coastguard as a shipping hazard.
Later in the afternoon the inshore lifeboat was tasked to a hobie cat that had capsized off Studland beach. Then whilst they were in the area they were tasked to a safety RIB that had capsized off Old Harry Rocks. The RIB was standing by five kayakers when it got into trouble. A man was airlifted by SAR helicopter Victor Alpha as a precaution as he had been in the water for some time and hypothermia was a real concern. The ILB checked everyone was okay and two of the canoes returned to Swanage and the last three went onto Knoll beach. The ILB towed the support RIB back to Knoll beach.

Whilst on exercise in the harbour the ALB was tasked to help a windsurfer in difficulty at Sandbanks.