HM Coastguard Southport

HM Coastguard is reminding coastal visitors to pay attention to our lifesaving safety advice, with wintry, freezing weather on its way.

Scotland and the North East of England, in particular, are going to get cold with Met Office Yellow Weather warnings for snow and ice issued from 5pm today until Thursday, but temperatures across the entire UK are set to fall.

It means that the cold turn will likely see more treacherous conditions at the coast, with more risks to visitors.

• Consider if it is safe to go out at all. If there are weather warnings in place, it is best to stay in. Always adhere to the weather advice from the Met Office.

• Keep away from the water’s edge. It’s not worth risking your life for ‘that selfie’.

• Keep off groynes, piers, jetties and harbour walls. If you can feel the spray, you’re too close.

• If going out, wear appropriate clothing and shoes, take a fully charged mobile phone and tell someone where you are going.

In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Area 15 (the North West) Flood Rescue Technicians were tasked to both storms, along with colleagues from other Areas.

++ INCIDENT 97 ++

19/11/2023 - 0555hrs

Tasked to assist Police at Preston.
No further information can be made available regarding this incident.

is on the way. Extremely high winds and rain are forecast.

Please keep an eye on any updates from the Met Office and other local sources.

Coastal emergency? Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

++ Storm Ciarán ++

On Wednesday 01/11/2023 the Area 15 Flood Team, (comprising of specialist officers from Llandudno, Southport, Knott-End, Furness and Maryport rescue teams) along with two of our Area Management Team (AMT) mobilised and headed south to Amesbury.

HM Coastguard deployed a number of Area Flood Teams from the 18 Areas around the country.

As the weather deteriorated, Area 15 were sent forwards to hold at Dorchester Fire Station. On the way they received an immediate (blue light) tasking to a holiday park in Burton Bradstock, with reports of caravans floating out to sea and persons trapped elsewhere on the site.

Two Coastguard helicopters were deployed, plus an RNLI AWB (all weather) lifeboat and the local Coastguard Rescue Team. Fire & Rescue were also on scene.

Later in the day, the team were on the road heading to Middlemoor FRS, but were diverted to flooding in Glastonbury. The team were stood down while travelling, and redirected to Dorchester FRS for some downtime before receiving a deployment to the village of Marston Magna where Police were on scene at a flood with rising water. Local Highways and Fire were also tasked and on scene.

The team kitted up on arrival, and after visiting properties and speaking to a number of residents, helped those that required evacuating.

Although there were still a number of flood warnings still active, the team were stood down as local resources were now coping, and Area 15 headed back to the north-west on Friday.

(The Area 15 team would like to thank Dorchester Fire & Rescue for allowing access to their Station at very short notice, and for the hospitality. It was very much appreciated).

HM Coastguard Rescue Service has 18 DEFRA ‘Type C’ flood teams around the coastline, ready to deploy at short notice anywhere in the UK.

Southport had two flood technicians with the Area 15 team in the south during Storm Ciarán, please also see the separate post on this page.

++ INCIDENT 96 ++

30/10/2023 - 1604hrs

The team responded to a request from Police to search for a vulnerable person on Marine Drive in the proximity of the pier.

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (Southport Lifeboat) also attended, who used their quad bikes to ysearch the tideline and beach areas.

With no trace of the reported casualty we were stood down a couple of hours later, and returned to station to continue our regular training evening.

++ INCIDENT 95 ++

29/10/2023 - 1011hrs

Tasked to provide safety cover at the peak of this mornings high tide for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) Medics as they rescued a seal pup that had been left stranded near Southport sea wall after last night’s incoming tide.

The pup was found to be in good health, and taken from Southport to New Brighton by road where it was released back into the sea.

If you discover a stranded marine mammal, do not approach it, keep dogs away, and ask other people to stay clear as well. Call the Coastguard on 999, or BDMLR on 01825 765546 for further advice.

🎥 The seal relocation video, by Ian Willow, a BDMLR North West Medic is in the Comments area below. 🦭

++ INCIDENT 94 ++

28/10/2023 - 0830hrs

Tasked to search for a vulnerable person at Southport

Open day at Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (Southport Lifeboat)! Pop in and say hello to our local rescue colleagues!

Don't forget - Today (28/10/23) our Lifeboat Station will be open to the public.

The station will be open between 10am and 4pm.

You’ll be given a guided tour of the station and the chance to see the lifesaving equipment used by our crew.

Please note - There is no on-site parking or vehicle access to the station. Nearby carparks are available.

Station address:

Southport Lifeboat Station
Marine Drive
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 1SD

++ Storm Babet ++

On Thursday 19/10/2023, as part of the National Flood Response Framework, The Coastguard Flood Team in Area 15 (officers from Wirral, Southport, HM Coastguard Fleetwood, Knott-End, Arnside, Furness, Millom, Whitehaven and Maryport rescue teams) deployed to Scotland and joined over 100 other flood team Coasties from around the Country to work alongside our partner emergency services with evacuations and rescues.

The Area 15 team arrived at Police Scotland College, Tulliallan and had just enough time to dump their bags before being deployed to Perth Fire & Rescue station on standby.

From Perth the team were quickly deployed to Brechin to assist with evacuation of households, leaving in the early hours and getting some sleep around 0330hrs.

On Friday morning an Immediate Tasking saw the team head out to Invergowrie to help evacuate the village, and while travelling received a divert to persons trapped in a car. Other CG Flood Teams were also tasked to the job, and as colleagues arrived on scene there, Area 15 continued on to the original tasking.

On arrival in Invergowrie the team quickly assembled kit and entered the flood water to begin rescues. The task was varied, starting with locating persons for rescue, including a casualty who was bed-bound and quite frail requiring a complex extraction, a family with young children, persons of all ages, and quite a few pets (which were often less than enthusiastic about being an a boat).

Saturday saw the team at a Dundee Fire & Rescue station (a Strategic Holding Point), to have some 'down time', but held at a ‘reactive' level for any immediate tasking.

As the afternoon went on, the rain and winds eased and the evening prediction was that some teams could be sent back to accommodation for some well deserved sleep.

The official stand down for Area 15 came later that evening, and after another night at the College everyone headed back over the border on Sunday.

The resilience, tenacity and bravery of those residents in crisis, plus their concern for neighbours and the emergency service workers was something to be witnessed first-hand. All the Area 15 team found themselves commenting on this, and were humbled by their attitude in the face of the carnage and destruction around them.

A huge thanks to partner emergency services (especially Scottish Fire & Rescue) who allowed the team to take over rooms, kitchens and carparks...plus unlimited supplies of hot drinks, and a considerable amount of light-hearted banter!

++ INCIDENT 93 ++

15/10/2023 - 1557hrs

Tasked to assist North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and North West Air Ambulance at Formby with a young casualty who had been thrown from a pony, and then dragged a short distance along the beach.

Our flank team HM Coastguard Crosby also attended.

The casualty received treatment from Paramedics and the Air Ambulance team at the scene.

The Coastguard team concluded the callout by providing HLS (Helicopter Landing Site) duties for the Air Ambulance.

++ INCIDENT 92 ++

13/10/2023 - 1141hrs

We responded to the report of a person struggling in the marsh area south of Southport pier.

A visual search of the area was carried out, with a negative result.

++ INCIDENT 91 ++

10/10/2023 - 1746hrs

Tasked to Blundellsands after a report of a person with a bike cut off by the tide flowing in to the River Alt.

We were stood down while travelling to scene as the casualty was reported to be clear of danger.

++ INCIDENT 90 ++

08/10/2023 - 1251hrs

Called out to assist HM Coastguard Crosby with reports of a Mother and child stuck in mud on Crosby beach.

On arrival we found the casualties had been freed from the mud and were in good health. Also in attendance were RNLI Lifeguards North West, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Merseyside Police.

This was another great example of all four emergency services working together, alongside our RNLI colleagues.

New toolkit to support mental wellbeing of HM Coastguard teams A new toolkit designed to help teams cope with distressing search and rescue incidents is being launched in the week of World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

The Flood Team in Area 15 (which Southport is a part of) were brought to immediate standby as the rain continued to fall in Scotland last weekend.

Two of Southport’s team are flood technicians, and along with colleagues from other Stations, had their bags packed and ready to go. However, as the rain eased, everyone received a stand down on the Sunday morning.

The Coastguard flood teams are a DEFRA ‘deployable asset’, and can be sent anywhere in the UK. The nearest team to the incident are deployed first, and as more teams are called, assets are drawn from the next nearest Area, and the process repeated as required.

++ INCIDENT 89 ++

04/10/2023 & 05/10/2023

Tasked to assist Police with an ongoing search for a high risk missing person in the Formby beach and pine woods area.

On the first day Our flank team HM Coastguard Crosby also attended, as did Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team (who were called away to another incident shortly after the search commenced).

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust quad bikes also joined the search, along with Cheshire Search and Rescue and Merseyside Lowland Search and Rescue.

On day two we joined the Police search teams, Police Dogs and NPAS to continue the coordinated search.

On day three, shortly prior to being tasked to continue the search, we were stood down by Police as the misper had been located.

An informative post by our colleagues at Whitehaven. Our area kit is held at Crosby, and the most commonly requested asset by Southport is Rescue 936, our helicopter based at Caernarfon Airport.

And we have to agree that packing the tent away takes considerably more team members, and more time! 😀

++ INCIDENT 88 ++

27/09/2023 - 1626hrs

Tasked along with Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team to assist HM Coastguard Crosby searching for a vulnerable person.

NPAS were in attendance, and successfully located the person a short distance from one of the search teams.

RNLI Lifeguards North West also assisted with the search.

No further information will be made available due to the nature of the incident.

📷 NPAS and a Coastguard Rescue Officer (CRO) during a recent search.

++ INCIDENT 87 ++

26/09/2023 - 1932hrs

Attended at Crosby beach to assist HM Coastguard Crosby after a report of a person acting in an unusual manner.

++ INCIDENT 86 ++

23/09/2023 - 1246hrs

Requested to assist HM Coastguard Crosby with a person stuck in mud on the beach adjacent to Crosby swimming pool.

The team were stood down while travelling to scene as the person was assisted by RNLI Lifeguards North West.

The Lifeguards were able to free the casualty on this occasion because the casualty had realised they were going to make things worse by moving around. They had stopped, spread their weight and dialled 999, asking for the Coastguard.

++ INCIDENT 85 ++

16/08/2023 - 2357hrs

Tasked along with Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team to assist HM Coastguard Crosby with reports of a vulnerable person in the sea at Crosby beach.

Stood down as we neared the scene as Police had managed to get the casualty to safety.

Also attending were RNLI New Brighton.

From our HM Coastguard- Bexhill colleagues:

🚨 Do you recognise this uniform ? 🚨
This is a Coastguard Rescue Officer, part of His Majesty's Coastguard Rescue Service.
Our team of CROs gives up their spare time to respond to a vast amount of incidents 2️⃣4️⃣/7️⃣ - 3️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ days of the year.
Day or Night, regardless of the weather, these Coastguard Rescue Officers are there when needed. ☀️⛈️
The Coastguard is one of the four 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ emergency services, yet not many people know who we are and what we do.
Do you want to know more❓️Follow our FB page for regular updates.
We also have a website: https://hmcoastguard.uk/
🚨 To Search. To Rescue. To Save 🚨
If you need help on or around the coast, dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard! 📟

++ SOUTHPORT AIRSHOW ++
++ & INCIDENTS 83 & 84 ++

09/09/2023 & 10/09/2023

The Team, along with Area Management attended the annual airshow at Southport this weekend to provide safety cover and advice, and also deal with any incidents as required.

We were assisted by colleagues from Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (Southport Lifeboat) who also attended both days, with their quad bikes being tasked to incidents alongside the Coastguard team, and also working with Police quad bikes intercepting stray members of the public who wandered into flightpath exclusion zones.

* Incident 83 * There were a couple of incidents that the team were tasked to attend, the first required us to attend at Formby beach at the request of Southport Lifeboat Quads, where there were a large number of visitors in danger of becoming cutoff on a sandbank by the incoming tide.

As the situation was time critical, our flank team HM Coastguard Crosby (who were out on patrol nearby) were also requested to attend, and between us the sandbank was cleared, a lost child reunited with her parents and lots of safety advice given.

There was also a number of inflatable dinghies in use that were not designed for the sea. Advice was given, and it was suggested that these items be left at home in the future.

* Incident 84 * A family with very young children (and a baby buggy) had walked up the beach from Ainsdale towards Southport not realising how far it was, and how poor the terrain is. A Police quad gave Dad a lift back to Ainsdale for his car, and Mum and children (accompanied by one of our team) were given a ride off the beach in a suitable trailer by Southport Lifeboat quads to meet Dad nearby.

Also in attendance providing safety cover for the weekend were Merseyside Police, Northwest Ambulance and St John’s Ambulance.

Today is Emergency Services Day.

Yesterday, Coastguard Officers and volunteers attended Liverpool Town Hall alongside other Emergency Service colleagues to honour the work of all Emergency Services.

We work hard, and we work together, to provide education and advice on how to stay safe in the sea and on the beach.

We are proud to be part of a team of people who are dedicated to making sure people have fun and stay safe at the coast. It is what the Coastguard is about.

We are a family of volunteers, who are passionate about safety and protecting our coastlines. We come from all walks of life and we are all connected by our love of the sea and our commitment to keeping people safe. We are proud to be part of this amazing team, and we are thankful for the support we receive. It means a lot to be recognised on

Paddleboards are becoming increasingly popular, but as a result of this, the amount of rescues we are seeing is increasing.

Most of these rescues could be avoided. Please have a listen to the MCA podcast…

Hints, tips and advice on staying safe on your paddle board - Maritime and Coastguard Agency Paddle boarding is a hugely popular leisure activity across the UK.And while many have a great experience, others have got themselves into difficulty and needed to be rescued.In this podcast, HM Coastguard explores the best way to make sure your p...

++ INCIDENT 83 ++

04/09/2023 - 1037hrs

Attended Ainsdale beach after a jogger suffered a leg injury and contacted the Coastguard for assistance.

Our flank team HM Coastguard Crosby also attended in case we needed to extract the casualty from the tideline.

The casualty decided to make their own way to hospital for further treatment.

++ INCIDENT 82 ++

02/09/2023 - 1844hrs

Tasked to assist HM Coastguard Crosby with a casualty stranded in the middle of the River Alt at Hightown after they had got into difficulties while attempting to ride a mountain bike between Altcar and Crosby beaches.

The casualty abandoned the bike which was now stuck in mud about half way up the frame, and after getting into the Alt managed to climb onto a secured boat and signal for help.

The rescue was interesting as it was a combination of water, mud, tide on the ebb (going out), and safe access to the casualty was difficult.

A plan was drawn up to utilise both mud and water technicians, and using a rescue sled the team accessed the Alt from further downstream and headed steadily up to the casualty location.

The casualty was recovered from the boat, and as a bonus the team successfully dug the bike out as well.

Back at the entry point, a line was fixed to the sled and with the added help of some lads who were passing, and Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team who had also been tasked, the sled had three trips up the mud to carry the casualty, the bike and the extraction team.

North West Ambulance Service were waiting and the casualty was passed into their care.

We would like to thank the lads who assisted in the recovery operation. Your help was very much appreciated. 👍🏼

If you need help on the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

++ INCIDENT 81 ++

01/09/2023 - 1144hrs

Tasked to assist North West Ambulance Service with a casualty extraction from rough land within the Royal Birkdale Golf Club grounds.

The casualty had been pulled over a small dune by their dog, and landed heavily, causing a hip injury.

The casualty was stabilised, secured in our basket stretcher and carried to a suitable point for lifting over a fence, and onto the 17th’s green.

The task was made easier thanks to the assistance of the green keepers, and Green Sefton Rangers.

The casualty was soon in the back of the ambulance and away to hospital.

Thanks to Royal Bikdale staff for their understanding as the vehicles were (carefully) driven over the pristine grass!

We say goodbye to RNLI Lifeguards North West today as the season ends.

This year has seen an increase in jobs where we have been working together on Southport, Ainsdale and Formby beaches (and Crosby beach occasionally), dealing with lost and missing persons of all ages, medical incidents of various types, and other taskings which include mud rescues and searches with HM Coastguard Crosby.

We have also enjoyed sharing training sessions and cakes! 🧁😊

So thank you Lifeguards, and we’ll see you next year! 👋🏼

++ INCIDENT 80 ++

29/08/2023 - 2251hrs

The MRCC at Holyhead tasked us to assist HM Coastguard Crosby with an ongoing search for a vulnerable person.

Fortunately the person was located a few minutes before our arrival on scene, and once the casualty was safely in the care of North West Ambulance Service we were stood down.

Also in attendance were Merseyside Police.

After more than five million people tuned in to watch Series One of Coastguard this summer, the behind-the-scenes documentary is officially set to return to Channel 5 for Series Two in 2024.

Show-maker Middlechild Productions has already started filming again with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), with camera crews lined up to capture footage well into the winter.

The action they cover is expected to range around the country and across the organisation: from Coastguard Rescue Teams, maritime rescue coordination centres and helicopter crews to marine surveyors and investigations teams.

The first series was over a year in the making and was shown on the primetime 9pm slot on Sundays.

It revealed how the MCA works both as rescuer and regulator towards the common goals of safer ships, safer lives and cleaner seas.

Who's excited for a second series?!