Yarmouth RNLI’s volunteers played a crucial role in a major multi-agency search and rescue operation that took place in Poole Bay near Swanage on Monday, successfully locating 1 of 2 missing paddle boarders some 4 miles out to sea.
Lifeboats local to the area were tasked earlier in the afternoon, but the decision was made by HM Coastguard to launch Yarmouth RNLI’s 17-25 ‘Eric and Susan Hiscock – Wanderer’ to join the search efforts at 18:45, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Yarmouth Lifeboat made good speed and navigated through the Needles Channel towards Poole Bay – outside its normal operating area – in moderate sea conditions and 2.5m swells. Within the hour, Yarmouth RNLI had arrived on scene and began their search as coordinated by Solent Coastguard in the attempts to locate the missing persons.
Shortly after Yarmouth RNLI’s search had started, a member of the crew spotted what they believed to be a Wave Rider in the water, so the lifeboat diverted to investigate. Cews then quickly established that the object in the water was in fact 1 of the missing persons on their paddleboard, located almost 4 miles from land.
Moving quickly, the crew alerted Solent Coastguard and then proceeded to initiate the recovery of the casualty, who by this point had been missing at sea for some 8 hours.
Once on board, the crew began their initial casualty care assessment and it was soon decided that the casualty required hospital treatment. Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter was called in and the winch paramedic was lowered down onto the lifeboat and carried out their own medical assessment on the casualty, agreeing that airlifting the casualty would be the best and quickest means of transfer to be admitted to the nearest hospital.
Once the casualty was airlifted into the helicopter, Yarmouth Lifeboat continued alongside the other RNLI lifeboats in their search of the bay, to locate the 2nd paddleboarder.
After a thorough search of the area, and now being more determined as darkness fell, reports came in via land-based Coastguard Rescue Teams that a paddleboard had been found at Hengistbury Head, between Mudeford and Bournemouth.
As the last of the daylight faded, reports of a person near Bournemouth Pier were received over radio by Police. Within minutes, it was confirmed that this person was the 2nd missing paddleboarder that the crews were searching for.
All remaining units were then stood down, with both casualties taken to hospital for further treatment. As a result Yarmouth Lifeboat and her volunteer crew started the passage back to Yarmouth, a good hour’s journey, where the boat was refuelled and marked as ready for service at 23:02.
Richard Pimm, Mechanic of Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat said:
“This is what this institution exists for. This is why the RNLI was started – to save lives at sea. And tonight, alongside HM Coastguard and the Police, we did just that – we wish the 2 casualties a speedy recovery.”
Well done! Imagine being out at sea for 8 hours on one of those things? Bet they thought they were a gonna
Yeah must of been terrible I’m so glad they found them and the other one was found. 2 many are lost at sea RNLI are amazing.
I do hope they give a sizable donation to the RNLI. A good starting point would be their body weight in gold
Amazing. So good to hear a positive outcome for both paddleboarders. Ending up separated too. Must be a relief knowing each other is ok.
Paddle boarders should be ashamed of them selves, going out on a board in force 6-7 with rough seas is idiotic.