Reports of person drifting out to sea results in lifeboat launch.
The Swanage inshore lifeboat (ILB) launched following unconfirmed reports of a board or small dinghy being blown out to sea in Swanage Bay.
The crew were asked to search between the main beach and Peveril ledge following a 999 call reporting someone drifting out to sea on a surf board or some sort of small dinghy.
Although the light was fading, conditions were very good for searching and a sweep of the southern end of Swanage Bay was quickly concluded with nothing found. The coastguard asked the lifeboat to complete a further sweep slightly further to the north, which was also completed quickly with no result.
Confident that the area had been well covered, the coastguard were able to release the ILB back to station, where the crew remained on 'immediate readiness' for some time while the separate incident was resolved.
ILB Crew: (Helm) Fergus Holley, Ben Jarvis, Sam Aggas, Ben Bamber
Shore Crew: (Winchman) Gary Buglass, Danielle Dix, Simon Foote
For more information please contact:
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Charmaine Tideswell, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, C[email protected]
Regional Media Manager Hatti Mellor, [email protected]
or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.