Torquay Coastguard Rescue Team

22/05/2026

It was an early start for our volunteers when we were tasked at 05:36 this morning to locate and provide casualty care to a person on Torquay Seafront. This took us to the milestone of 100 incidents so far for the year., a total that didn’t stand for long on what proved to be a busy day.

At 07:07 we were alerted to a Man-over-board beacon that had activated in the area of Torquay Marina. We left a small number of coastguard rescue officers completing the handover of the casualty from our 1st incident and began a search around Torquay Harbour.

An inflated life jacket was located in a nearby vessel moored alongside Princess Pier and we were able to report back that this was a false alarm.

At 16:36 we were alerted to a person who had fallen on rocks near Elberry Cove. We worked with colleagues from Brixham Coastguard Rescue Team to locate the person, and to stretcher them over rocks back up to the main path. They were handed over to Paramedics and taken to hospital for further care.

As we completed this incident at 18:00 we were made aware of another incident - a report of an unconscious person near to Broadsands Beach. We worked with paramedics to locate the casualty and assist them to the waiting ambulance.

30/04/2026

🔔 Royal Navy and Army UXO specialists have now confirmed that the device cannot be safely removed and will need to be made safe in situ using a controlled detonation. This is planned to take place tomorrow, once all safety measures are fully in place.

Teams are currently building a sand mitigation structure to reduce impact. You will not be able to see the detonation and people are asked to stay well away from the area. A no fly zone is also in place – drones are not permitted.

🚧 The cordon remains at 400 metres and will not be lifted tonight, so evacuated residents cannot yet return home. Once the device is made safe, we will confirm when the cordon can be lifted via official channels.
⚠️ If you are within the 400m cordon and have not yet evacuated, please leave your home this evening. This is essential for everyone’s safety.
🏠 If you have nowhere else to stay, the Evacuation Centre at Southway Youth & Community Centre is open overnight. Temporary accommodation bookings will be extended automatically. Call 01752 668000 if you need support.
🎒 If evacuating, please take essentials for the next couple of days – medication, items for babies/children, chargers, documents and pet supplies.
🚫 No one can re enter the cordon at this time. If you need urgent items, speak to staff at the evacuation centre.
🏫 Oakwood Primary School, Little Acorns Pre School and Beechwood Primary School will remain closed tomorrow.

We know this is incredibly disruptive and stressful, and we are very sorry. These steps are necessary to keep everyone safe. Please see our website for a full update! 👇

https://bit.ly/48z3Nxn

28/04/2026

Monday 27th April callouts #77, #78 and #79.

A busy day for the team with our first call out to Paignton Pier to secure a large float that had come loose from a mussel farm. This was moved above the high water line ready to be picked up by Torbay Council.

The team was then tasked to the coastal path between Shaldon and Maidencombe to a walker who had a suspected broken ankle.

The team along with colleagues from Dawlish Coastguard located the casualty and guided the HART team from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust who provided treatment. The casualty was then transferred onto our stretcher and carried for approximately half a mile to a waiting ambulance.

The casualty and other walkers had used what3words to give the location to assist the team in locating the casualty which was really helped to quickly locate them.

The next tasking was to the Petitor area to locate and assist a young mountain biker that had fallen sustaining a suspected broken arm.

The team located the casualty and started first aid whilst the rest of the team guided a ambulance crew to the casualty’s location for further treatment. The casualty was then assisted to the waiting ambulance. He was wearing a helmet which help avoid more serious injuries.

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

14/04/2026

13/04/26 Call out #69
At 10:26 the team were tasked to locate and assist a dog walker and dog in the vicinity of Watcombe beach.

The dog walker and one of her dogs were swiftly located and assisted over rocks to the safety of Watcombe beach. The missing dog was still on the beach at Whitsand Bay, which was inaccessible by us on foot.

RNLI Teignmouth kindly launched to try to locate the dog which they successfully did and reunited it with the owner on Watcombe beach.

The owner did everything correctly by calling us for help rather than take undue risks trying to retrieve her dog.

At 15:18 we were alerted to our second tasking of the day following reports that a paddle-boarder was struggling to make headway near Anstey’s Cove.

We located the paddle-boarder who had managed to get moving again and observed them safely reach Babbacombe beach where we checked on their welfare and were happy to report back that this proved to be a false alarm.

Again, our thanks to the person who did the right thing and dialled to report their concern.

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.

28/03/2026

Tasking #59

‼️25/03/26 19:53hrs

Torquay Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to assist with a multi-agency search in Newton Abbot, after reports that someone had fallen into the water. Other agencies involved were Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Devon & Cornwall Police, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Dawlish Coastguard, Coastguard Area 10 Drone team, and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
After a thorough search and further enquiries, it was deemed to be a false alarm and all teams were stood down.

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

16/03/2026

Call out #52, 09:57 on Sunday 15/03/26,
The team were tasked to assist a dog walker fallen in the valley of the rocks near Watcombe.

The team located Paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust that were treating the casualty. We assisted with treatment and planned the safest route to get the casualty to the waiting ambulance.

Due to the uneven ground our cliff rescue stretcher was used to carry the casualty a quarter of a mile to the waiting ambulance.

(Stock image)

13/03/2026

Incident #49 10/03/26 20:15

🚨 Tasking #20

📅 10/03/26 2015hrs

Shortly after our weekly Tuesday Training, the team were tasked to assist Devon & Cornwall Police with an incident in the Dawlish area.

Other agencies involved in the response were Torquay Coastguard Rescue Team, RNLI Exmouth, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Devon Air Ambulance, Newquay Coastguard Helicopter 924, the Hazardous Area Response Team, and a BASICS Devon volunteer Doctor.

Conditions weren't favourable, but there was good multi-agency partnership working to help combat this.

No further information to follow.

📞 In an EMERGENCY at the COAST, call 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD.

📷 Credits: Dawlish CRT

09/03/2026

Tuesday 03/03/26 Training and incidents: 📟🚨

Incident #46 11:27
We were tasked to assist South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to locate and assist with an elderly male who fell when taking advantage of the warmer weather to walk a section of the coast path near London Bridge.

Half of the team went ahead to locate, assess and stabilise the casualty , whilst the other half assisted the ambulance crew to scene. The casualty was swiftly located with only minor injuries and was helped to the ambulance stretcher where the ambulance crew took over care.

Training 18:30
For our regular Tuesday evening training session we took advantage of the nicer weather and went to Corbyn Head to practice our cliff rescue skills, utilising our lighting rigs.

We also have access to a drone team that can also assist with lighting over cliffs and other hard to access areas, as you can see from the photos. The training session was cut short to respond to tasking #47.

Incident #47 20:14
We were tasked along with Brixham Coastguard Rescue Team to
support Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing person. The search was suspended shortly after midnight, pending further enquiries by the police.

☎️ If you spot an emergency on the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

09/03/2026

Tuesday 03/03/26 Training and incidents: 📟🚨

Incident #46 11:27
We were tasked to assist South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to locate and assist with an elderly male who fell when taking advantage of the warmer weather to walk a section of the coast path near London Bridge.

Half of the team went ahead to locate, assess and stabilise the casualty , whilst the other half assisted the ambulance crew to scene. The casualty was swiftly located with only minor injuries and was helped to the ambulance stretcher where the ambulance crew took over care.

Training 18:30
For our regular Tuesday evening training session we took advantage of the nicer weather and went to Corbyn Head to practice our cliff rescue skills, utilising our lighting rigs.

We also have access to a drone team that can also assist with lighting over cliffs and other hard to access areas, as you can see from the photos. The training session was cut short to respond to tasking #47.

Incident #47 20:14
We were tasked along with to
support Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing person. The search was suspended shortly after midnight, pending further enquiries by the police.

☎️ If you spot an emergency on the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.