Coastguard Cliff teams rescue Disoriented Anglers

A cautionary note to all of us:

Maritime & Coastguard Agency

Monday, May 08, 2006

COASTGUARD CLIFF TEAMS RESCUE DISORIENTATED ANGLERS

The Torbay and Berry Head Coastguard Rescue Teams helped two anglers who were hanging on by their fingernails to cliffs at Daddy Hole Plain, near Torquay last night.

A flurry of expert hands haul coastguard rescuer Steve French to the cliff top after a 3 hour rescue.

Brixham Coastguard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre received a 999 call at 10.15 pm on Sunday evening, reporting that the two anglers, a man and woman in their thirties, had become disorientated on cliffs and were in a precarious position in the driving rain. They were becoming overcome by cold and were close to a steep drop.

Brixham Coastguard requested the Torbay and Berry Head Coastguard Rescue Teams to attend the scene. Torbay RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats were requested to launch. A police helicopter and the RAF Rescue helicopter from Chivenor were scrambled.

Once the Coastguard teams arrived on scene, and cliff gear was assembled three cliff men, Keith Beard, Gary Bishop and Steve French descended the cliff. They described this as one of our most technically challenging jobs so far. Once they found the anglers, who were hanging on by their fingernails, a decision was made not to retrieve the casualties up the cliff due to problems with an old wall and thick undergrowth.

With illumination from below by the Torbay Lifeboat and from above by the Police helicopter, the two casualties were secured on lines. The RAF Rescue helicopter was then tasked. The two casualties were winched to safety, over the wall, to the cliff team, who then ensured that they were safely brought to an awaiting ambulance which took them to Torbay Hospital.

Shamus McCaffery, Coastguard Sector Manager for South East Devon says:
This is Coastguard cliff work at its best. The Coastguard teams from Berry Head and Torbay are extremely well trained, disciplined and skillful. This is what they are trained for and those hours of hard work have paid off. If our teams hadnt responded quickly and effectively, the two anglers may have succumbed to the cold and wet or, worst still, taken a fall over the steep cliff.

Given the oncoming summer season, anglers should check the safety of their access and egress. They should also make sure that they have checked tide tables so that they dont get cut off by the tide. Tide times are available from the Coastguard or a timetable can be purchased from local shops. Weather conditions should also be checked before departure –do not over stretch your limitations.

Anglers, and all coastal users, should give someone at home an expected return time in order that the alarm can be raised if they do not arrive when expected.

Finally, if you do find yourself in a situation where assistance is required at sea or on the coast, dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.

E.L.

Nice to see a happy ending for a change. Its shouts like this that make all our training worth while.