West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team

West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team HM Coastguard Search & Rescue Team. Part of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA)
On call 24/7

This page has been accredited by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). For more information on the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) please visit: www.dft.gov.uk/mca

West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team – What We Do.999 – CoastguardHave you got a minute to refresh yourself on the role and c...
13/06/2026

West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team – What We Do.

999 – Coastguard

Have you got a minute to refresh yourself on the role and capabilities of HM Coastguard in your local area?

🚨 We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in all weathers.

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Our Coastguard Rescue Station is located in George Street, West Bay.

We operate one emergency response vehicle and are made up of a dedicated team of 10 Coastguard Rescue Officers from a wide range of backgrounds, including Local Authority, Business Owners, Facilities Management, Film & TV, Forensics and Mechanics.

Our team brings together a wealth of knowledge and experience, ranging from officers who have recently joined to others with over 20 years of service.

As Coastguard Rescue Officers, we are on call 24/7 and can be mobilised at any time of the day or night by our paging system.

While there is no on-call allowance, we receive a basic payment for incidents attended and also to undertake essential training in a variety of different skill-sets.

Some of our officers live close to the station, helping us maintain a rapid response capability.

How HM Coastguard Works:

Coastguard Operations Centres, located around the UK, are responsible for coordinating and tasking Search and Rescue (SAR) assets including Coastguard Rescue Teams and Coastguard Helicopters.

When you dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, it is one of these Operations Centres that answers your call, assesses the situation and deploys the appropriate rescue resources.

Who We Are:

HM Coastguard is a Government-funded emergency service and forms part of the UK's national Search and Rescue capability.

Unlike some other rescue organisations, HM Coastguard is not a charity and does not rely on public donations to operate.

As a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, HM Coastguard has statutory responsibilities for emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

This places the organisation alongside other key emergency services and responder agencies that work together to protect life, property and the environment during emergencies.

West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team is proud to play its part in delivering that capability on a local level, responding to incidents along our coastline and supporting wider emergency response operations when required.

What We Do:

West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team attends an average of 80 incidents each year and works closely with partner emergency services to provide an effective search and rescue capability.

Our primary responsibilities include:

• Technical Rope Rescue
• Water Rescue
• Missing Person Search
• Emergency Casualty Care
• Casualty Extraction
• Flood Response
• Pyrotechnics and Ordnance (TEP) Response
• Securing Emergency Helicopter Landing Sites
• Receiver of Wreck Duties
• Incident Coordination
• Mutual Aid to Other Emergency Services and Agencies

Whether responding to a person cut off by the tide, performing a rope rescue, assisting an injured casualty on difficult coastal terrain, searching for a missing person, or supporting partner agencies during major incidents, our team is ready to respond whenever needed.

🌊 In a coastal emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

⛵ For water users, assistance can also be requested via VHF Marine Radio Channel 16.

Coastguard Rescue Teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing a lifesaving search and rescue service in all conditions.

10/06/2026

⚓️ Stronger Together: Joint Rope Training ⚓️
This evening saw one of our best training turnouts in months as the Lyme Regis Coastguard team joined forces with West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and full-time officers from HM Coastguard - Dorset, for a joint rope training exercise on our beautiful coastline.
With an impressive turnout of 18 volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers and two full-time officers working side-by-side against the sunset, the evening was a powerful reflection of the cohesion, integrity, and commitment that defines our two teams.
We learnt a new rope recovery technique; which is now fully deployable for operational taskings. Inter-team training helps us work seamlessly on live rescues and helps build solid relationships and clear communication for joint operations or complex cliff rescues. Ensuring that our coastal community continues to be in safe, steady, and highly capable hands.

For any coastal emergency, dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard

28/05/2026

🆘 INCIDENT:Rescue at Charmouth Beach 🚨
​This afternoon, the Lyme Regis Coast Guard Rescue Team was tasked alongside West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and the South Western Ambulance Service to a incident at Charmouth Beach, following reports of an individual who had fallen from the cliffs onto the beach.
Upon arrival, teams successfully located the casualty on the beach, and an initial assessment undertaken by paramedics. Due to the nature of the injuries and the terrain, the Coastguard rescue helicopter Rescue 387 was scrambled for assistance. The casualty was safely transferred via helicopter from the beach to a secondary landing site near the main car park.
​From there, the individual was passed back into the care of the ambulance service and subsequently transported to the hospital for further treatment.

​Incidents like this require seamless teamwork, and we would like to extend our massive thanks to:
▪️​West Bay Coast Guard & Ambulance Crews for the excellent interagency agency response.
▪️​Charmouth Council staff, who stepped in on the ground to assist with vital crowd control.
​▪️NCI Lyme Bay volunteers, who kindly offered to assist with securing the helicopter landing site.
▪️The members of the public who helped us by staying well back from our helicopter landing zones.
​We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

​⚠️ SAFETY REMINDER: The cliffs along our coastline can be highly unstable and should not be climbed upon. Please stay well back from cliff edges and away from the base of cliffs when on the beach.
​In any emergency at the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

12/05/2026

🆘 Tasking: Technical Rope Recovery Near Lyme Regis🚨

​Lyme Regis and West Bay Coastguard Rescue Teams were deployed this afternoon to recover a walker trapped in dense undergrowth below the Lyme Regis Golf Course East of The Spittles. ​The individual had strayed from the main path into thick scrub and quickly realised they were lost and in a dangerous position.

​Key details of the rescue:
▪️​Smart Thinking: Recognising they were lost, the walker wisely stayed put in a safe spot and called for help immediately rather than attempting to push through the treacherous terrain.
▪️​Precision Location: Using the what3words app, the casualty provided a pinpoint location, allowing teams to find them despite being invisible from the path.
▪️​Technical Ex*****on: Due to the steep, overgrown terrain, a rope rescue technician descended from the cliff edge to reach the walker and bring them up to safety.
▪️​Outcome: We are pleased to report the individual was recovered safely with no injuries.

⚠️ ​The Undercliff terrain between Lyme Regis and Charmouth is notoriously deceptive. To stay safe:
1️⃣ ​Stick to established paths: Straying even a few meters can lead to being trapped in dense scrub.
2️⃣​ Download what3words: It is the fastest way for us to find you in an emergency.
3️⃣​ Stay Put: If you get lost, follow this walker's example—stop, stay safe, and call for help.

​In a coastal emergency, dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the COASTGUARD.

Photo Credit: West Bay Coastguard

03/04/2026

🚁 INCIDENT UPDATE: Third Tasking of the Day

​It has been a non-stop day for our crews. Lyme Regis Coastguard and West Bay Coastguard were tasked to our third incident of the day—this time for a person stuck on the cliffs with a rapidly rising tide.
​Due to the precarious location and the incoming water, a multi-agency response was launched, including the RNLI Lyme Regis, West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

​The Rescue:
🚨 ​On the Ground: Two Coastguard officers successfully made contact with the individual on the cliff face.
🛟 ​On the Water: Lyme RNLI remained offshore to monitor the situation and provide safety cover.
🆘 ​The Extraction: After providing the casualty with safety advice for a winch recovery, our officers had to retreat as the tide threatened to cut off their exit path. It was quickly decided that a helicopter extraction was the safest way to get the individual home.

🚁 ​The individual was successfully winched and flown to Monmouth Beach, where they were met by waiting Coastguard teams. Although understandably cold after the ordeal, we are happy to report they were uninjured.

​Despite it being a busy day for us, we want to highlight that the casualty did exactly the right thing. When they realized they were in trouble and the tide was closing in:
▪️​They stayed put to avoid making a bad situation worse.
▪️​They called for help immediately.
▪️​Their quick logical thinking turned a dangerous situation into a successful rescue

If you find yourself in difficulty along the coast, follow their lead: Dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard.

03/04/2026

🌊 Busy Day for the Team: Double Call-Out 🌊
​It’s been a high-tempo day for the Lyme Regis Coastguard team, with two very different incidents requiring a swift, multi-agency response.

​🚑 Incident 1: Medical Rescue at Seatown
​Our first tasking took us toward Seatown to assist a casualty with a suspected broken ankle. Due to the challenging terrain, we worked closely with our colleagues from West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team. Utilizing our team’s off-road capabilities, we were able to successfully locate and extricate the casualty, transferring them safely into the care of the awaiting South Western Ambulance Service. We wish them a swift recovery.

​💣 Incident 2: Live Ordnance on Lyme Beach
Just as we were returning to the station, a second call came in: suspected ordnance discovered on the sandy beach in Lyme Regis.
The team deployed immediately and located the item— later confirmed to be a live, high-caliber .50 caliber projectile. The round was slightly deformed, presenting a potential risk to the public.
​▪️An initial cordon was established. Following consultation with the MOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, the cordon was extended to ensure the safety of beachgoers, local business staff, and emergency workers.
▪️​This was a massive team effort. We would like to extend our thanks to West Bay Coastguard, our Senior Coastguard Operations Officer from HM Coastguard - Dorset, Lyme Regis Town Council, Lyme Regis Fire Station , and Dorset Police for their vital assistance in maintaining the scene.
​
​Fortunately, upon arrival, EOD experts were able to safely remove the live round for disposal at an off-site location. This meant the cordon could be lifted quickly, allowing the beach to return to normal.

​⚠️ Safety Reminder: If you find something unusual on the beach that looks like old ammunition or ordnance, do not touch it. 1. Move away from the object.
2. Keep others back.
3. Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Address

George Street
West Bay
DT64EY

Telephone

+442392552100

Website

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