Posts

Girl rescued from between a rock and a hard place

Image
Coastguards supported the operation (Photo: Lee Bell/Aberdyfi Coastguard Rescue Team) It was a race against tide and time for HM Coastguard and fellow emergency services to rescue a young child who was trapped in rock armour at Tywyn beach in North Wales. HM Coastguard received the 999 call from a member of the public at around 3.15pm on Sunday 21 April and quickly dispatched multiple emergency services teams and specialists to safely rescue the child from a dangerous and challenging situation.   The youngster was stuck between the large, heavy boulders and the tide was coming in quickly.  Skilled teams in HM Coastguard’s Holyhead Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) coordinated the rescue.   It involved Aberdyfi and Barmouth Coastguard Rescue Teams, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the Welsh Ambulance Service, air ambulance doctors and assistance from a local excavator. North Wales Police was also in support at the scene.  The child was extracted safe and well in a delicate
Read more

Maritime and Coastguard Agency documentary ready to return to TV screens

Image
A Coastguard Rescue Officer rope technician inches over a cliff The wait is nearly over for f ans of the hit Channel 5 documentary Coastguard : Search and Rescue SO S as the brand - new second series is primed to air at 8 pm on Sunday 28 April .   The first outing in 2023 attracted more than 5 million viewers . Now t he show is returning for another eagerly anticipated run of real-life stories about t he people working for the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the p ublic who find themselves in danger by the coast and at sea.    The series of six weekly episodes will feature r ound-the-clock emergency response operations by HM Coastguard , with c ameras capturing staff from maritime rescue coordination centres , c o astguard r escue t eams , and search and rescue helicopters – always on alert to respond to people in need of help .   Stephanie George, Team Leader at Holyhead Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre The spotlight also shines on
Read more

HM Coastguard teams hailed with Department for Transport Rescue Shield

Image
From left: Trevor Cutler (Newhaven CRT), Mark Francis (Birling Gap), Sadi Hopgood (Eastbourne) and Virginia McVea (Photo: Eddie Mitchell) Three volunteer Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRTs) in Sussex have been awarded the Department for Transport Rescue Shield for their outstanding dedication and courage responding to many particularly challenging emergencies on steep and dangerous cliffs. The prestigious accolade was presented by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Chief Executive, Virginia McVea, to the CRTs and full-time officers working from Birling Gap, Eastbourne and Newhaven.  The volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers who make up the teams are regularly sent to deploy their rope rescue skills on the vertiginous cliffs of the Sussex coast.  Emergency responses often require long hours, descending onto precarious ledges, and sometimes careful communication with the people in danger. It is not unusual for CRTs to be tasked to several incidents in a single day or for rescues to also invo
Read more

Team ‘humbled and privileged’ to receive highest form of civic honour

Image
Coastguard Rescue Officers in Hartlepool have been awarded the highest form of civic honour, to recognise their work and contribution to the borough.  After seeking nominations from the community, Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team has been awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough by Hartlepool Borough Council, for always helping those in need. From lifesaving search and rescue call outs to supporting events and happenings in the town, the work of HM Coastguard has not gone unnoticed by locals. The prestigious honour was awarded as a huge thank you to the team during a civic ceremony held on 18 March, presented by the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool, Councillor Shane Moore. Following the event, Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Station Officer Garry Carden said: “The team is humbled and privileged to receive such an honour, even to be nominated is something really special. “We don’t become coastguard rescue officers for the recognition or praise, we just want to help keep people
Read more

‘Times have changed’ - Inspiring a generation for both men and women

Image
“We should be using our roles to promote inclusivity and a workplace for all, that’s what it’s all about.” As part of this year’s International Women’s Day, the Deputy to the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) has highlighted the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone. In 2018 Lisa McAuliffe became the first woman to be appointed a Deputy to the SOSREP. This is a role which during maritime emergencies empowers Lisa to make time critical decisions on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport during a shipping incident, or the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. This is a role she takes seriously but also enjoys. Lisa says it is the combination of both men and women that brings “different dimensions and perspective to a team”, adding “work should never be about gender, but about recognising the individual”. In 1970 women were allowed to join HM Coastguard for the first time, and
Read more

Coastguard teams recognised with bravery and conduct award

Image
Coastguard Rescue Teams in the Western Isles have been celebrated by police for their “brave, decisive and courageous actions” within the community. The Chief Constable’s Bravery and Excellence Awards, run by Police Scotland, is a chance for the force to recognise individuals and organisations that have gone the extra mile in emergency situations. As part of this the Western Isles Coastguard Rescue Teams have received a Bravery and Conduct Award, for their ongoing mutual support to police. The citation from Police Scotland highlighted the “invaluable assistance, expertise and knowledge” provided by HM Coastguard in challenging circumstances, adding the Western Isles teams “work effectively with police to achieve the best possible results”. “The brave, decisive and courageous actions of the Western Isles Coastguard Teams ensure that the community they serve are kept safe on a daily basis.” In a special awards ceremony held on 23 February, Coastal Operations Area Commander Murdo
Read more

Coastguard mud training is 'huge step forward' for multi-agency rescues

Image
HM Coastguard has joined forces with emergency services in Hampshire to improve overall response to people stuck in the mud. After three days of training with HM Coastguard earlier this month, members of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service can now travel up to 400 metres away from solid ground to assist with mud rescues. Firefighters are equipped to travel around 30 metres across areas of softer land and mud, so this training has provided the skills and resources they need to increase this distance. The training in Portsmouth enabled the two agencies to work together and experience call outs involving mud, further improving their understanding of location, skills, and how to respond to those in need.   Around 20 people took part in the training, including representatives from the local coastguard teams, police marine unit and animal rescue. Coastal Operations Area Commander Tom Wright said the training was “a huge success”, and is excited for it to be rolled o
Read more