HM Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team

25/05/2026

Inflatables are great for the pool, but they’re not safe for the sea.

Even in light winds, they can quickly drift you out to sea and put you in danger.

If you’re heading to the beach this bank holiday, leave inflatables at home and save them for the pool instead.

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

24/05/2026

Mud can trap you faster than you think.

If you get stuck or get into trouble along the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

23/05/2026

Taking a dip in the sea on a hot day? ⛱️

Don’t be fooled, just because it’s sunny doesn’t mean the water is warm.

Entering cold water, whether deliberately or accidentally, can cause cold water shock.

When this happens, you may gasp involuntarily, followed by rapid breathing that can be very difficult to control. This can increase the risk of inhaling water and drowning.

Never jump straight in. Instead, enter the water slowly to help your body adjust, and avoid swimming alone. Wearing a wetsuit can also help by improving buoyancy and reducing the effects of cold water.

Don’t forget to have warm clothes ready for when you come back to shore.

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

23/05/2026

21/05/2026

Worth remembering if you’re thinking of heading to the beach this bank holiday weekend.

Temperatures over the next few days will be unusually high for this time of year 🌡️

While it may feel like a summer’s day, the sea will still be fairly cold so take care if you’re heading to the coast this weekend 🌊

01/05/2026

🚨April Roundup 🚨

Volunteers of the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team responded to six call-outs this month.

When the pager went off, we attended:
📟 2 x water rescue
📟 1 x rope rescue
📟 2 x mud rescue
📟 1 x casualty evacuation

As always, we continue to train every week. During April, we focused on rope and water rescue as we get ready for the warmer weather.

The team also undertook two local knowledge patrols, which enabled us to check the status of our regular access points and ensure that our plans for casualty evacuation remain achievable.

No doubt you will see some of us attending public engagement events over the summer, so please come over and chat to learn more about what we do.

As always, please remember if you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, then please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Further safety information can be found at https://hmcoastguard.uk/safety-advice

20/04/2026

RECRUITING NOW 

Are you ready for a new and exciting challenge? Are you looking to make a difference? Our 2026 recruitment window has now opened, and we’re looking for new team members who can provide regular daytime, evening, and weekend availability to join the team as a Coastguard Rescue Officer.

Ideally working and/or living within 20 minutes of our station in Bembridge, you'll be part of a team of committed volunteers providing 24/7 pager response to coastal and maritime incidents in the area we respond in. You could be responding at a moments notice to rescue someone from a cliff, mud or the water, searching for a missing person, assisting with a boat in distress, helping other emergency services, or working with lifeboats and the Coastguard helicopter in all sorts of situations.

All training, clothing and equipment is provided. No prior experience is necessary as you will be trained to Coastguard competencies.

If you'd like more information please get in touch. If it’s not for you, please help us to spread the word!

If you would like to come along and observe a training evening and meet the team, please drop us a private message.

Come and join us to search, to rescue and to save.

Further details of what you can expect as a Coastguard Rescue Officer can be found here: https://hmcoastguard.uk/volunteer-as-a-coastguard

We look forward to hearing from you!



HM Coastguard Bembridge
25 Forelands Field Road,
Bembridge,
Isle of Wight
PO35 5TR

04/04/2026

In a coastal emergency, minutes matter. Could you tell someone exactly where you are if you or a loved one needed help?

When you call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, one of the first questions you’ll be asked is: “where are you?”. The moment you provide this information; the teams will dispatch the most appropriate responders. We have world-class systems to help us, but valuable time can be saved if you can give some location details.

There are very simple ways, as well as more advanced options, to help you stay safe and know your location.

• Before you leave: Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

• Safety signs and location: Look for local safety signs depicting beach names and location references. Take a picture of local landmarks such as car park names and buildings.

• Location apps: Know how to use your location apps. Many smartphones now have a Global Positioning System (GPS) installed which pinpoints geographical locations.

• Mobile phone: Make sure your mobile is fully charged, ideally in a waterproof case. It’s also worth taking a power pack so you can recharge your phone, especially if your activities involve heavy battery use.

If you can tell us exactly where you are, rescuers can be sent more quickly. It could save a life.

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

02/04/2026

🚨 March 2026 roundup 🚨
March saw the team respond to 12 incidents, as follows:

📟 9 x water rescue tasking 🌊
📟 3 x helicopter landing sites 🚁

In addition to our taskings, we continue to train every week and this month we focused on mud rescue. As you can see from the photos, it is a messy business.

As well as the risk of sinking deep into the mud, there is sometimes the threat to life from being unable to escape due to rising tides. Please take note of local warning signs and be aware that the area where the tide comes in and out can have hidden pockets of mud.

If you do happen to find yourself stuck in mud, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Safety Message:
As always, please remember if you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea then please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Further safety information can be found at https://hmcoastguard.uk/safety-advice

22/03/2026

If you lost a rucksack on Bembridge beach today, it is now at our station. Please get in contact with us so we can arrange a suitable collection time.