Lyme Regis Coastguard

24/10/2026

Last night, the Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team gathered alongside colleagues from West Bay Coastguard, B**r Coastguard, and the HM Coastguard - Dorset, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Management Team to celebrate a true legend of the service: Gerry Bearpark, who has officially retired after 23 incredible years with HM Coastguard.

​Since responding to his very first shout in early 2004, Gerry has attended well over 1,000 incidents along our coastline. Before putting on the Coastguard uniform, he had already completed over two decades of distinguished service with the British Army, representing more than 40 years devoted to public and national service.

​Described by our Senior Coastal Operations Officer (SCOO) as a true stalwart, Gerry leaves our team more skilled, steadfast, and resilient than ever. He has mentored countless team members over the years and remained a calm, dependable anchor that both new recruits and senior officers could always rely on. Simply put, he has been one of the finest assets our station has ever had.

​To Gerry: we all thank you for your decades of selflessness, dedication, and unwavering commitment to keeping our community safe. You will be sorely missed on rescues, but your legacy is built into the fabric of this team. We wish you the very best in a long, happy, and well-earned retirement.

​A huge thank you as well to the team at The Clockhouse Chideock for hosting us and making the evening so memorable.

​Fair winds and following seas, Gerry! ⚓️🌊

📸 Photo's: Gerry scrubbed up at the Clock Inn alongside colleagues, and in his element doing what he did best on the mud!

23/10/2026

🌊 Coastal Caution ⚠️

Following overnight heavy rain and high winds, we urge caution along our coastline today.

Please be aware of several key hazards currently affecting the area:
🛘 Cliff instability & mudslides: Our cliffs contain Blue Lias clay, which becomes highly mobile and unstable when wet. Sections can slide or fall without warning, often covering the entire beach from the base to the water’s edge. Please stay well clear of the cliffs and avoid fossil hunting in mud slips or near cliff bases.
🌊 Sea walls & The Cobb: High winds and strong surf create dangerous conditions along the sea walls to the east and on the Cobb. Waves can easily overtop structures and sweep people off their feet.
🛟 Tides & debris: Large swells can push tides in much faster than predicted, increasing the risk of being cut off. Floating debris in the surf also presents a hidden danger.

Please give the sea and cliffs plenty of space today.
If you see someone in difficulty along the coast, do not put yourself at risk—dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard.

(Historic image)

03/10/2026

🚨TEAM TRAINING: SPECIALIST MUD RESCUE 🚨
Today, members of the Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team were down on the River Axe undertaking intensive training in specialist mud rescue techniques.
Four members of the Lyme team successfully completed the training, joining our existing qualified mud rescue technicians. This boosts our operational capability, ensuring we remain fully equipped, trained, and ready to respond quickly and effectively to mud rescue incidents across our local coastline.

A massive thank you to our colleagues from the West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team for joining us to help operate recovery systems.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to:
▪️The Harbour Inn, Axmouth — thank you for allowing us to use your site for access throughout the day.
▪️Our HM Coastguard - Dorset, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Area Management Team — who travelled all the way from the Isle of Wight on a Saturday to deliver this vital, hight quality training.

⚠️ As seasonal wet weather sets in, the risk of mudslides, cliff slips, and deep mud flows increases significantly along the Jurassic Coast. What appears to be solid, crusty, or harmless ground can actually be a deep, saturated slurry waiting beneath the surface.
Do not climb on mudflows, slips, or cliff falls, stepping onto what looks like firm earth can see you trapped waist-deep within seconds.
Keep well clear of the base and top of soft cliffs, particularly during and after rainfall.

HM Coastguard is the primary emergency response service for mud rescues on our coastline, including the active cliff sections around Lyme Regis and Charmouth.

🆘 If you become stuck in mud, or if you spot someone who could be in difficulty along our coast:
📞 Dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ immediately and ask for the COASTGUARD. Stay calm, try to spread your weight evenly across the surface if you can, and wait for trained rescue teams to arrive.

24/08/2026

The Lyme Regis Coastguard team was tasked to East Beach to assist with the treatment and extraction of an individual who had fallen whilst walking and sustained injuries.

Our team was deployed at request of the ambulance service to provide rapid casualty care and assistance with extraction if needed. A solo operative from Lyme Regis Town Council was already on scene and stepped in brilliantly to provide initial support and a vehicle first aid kit until we arrived. Given the nature of the injury, help was also on the way from RNLI Lyme Regis, West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team, and a HM Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

As the first emergency service on scene, our team conducted an initial medical assessment. Thankfully, with the casualty stable and land ambulance crews were only a short time away, we were able to safely stand down all inbound Coastguard and Lifeboat flank units.

Casualty care continued on the sea wall before a handover to the arriving ambulance crew for onward transport and hospital treatment.

We would like to send our best wishes to the individual for a very swift recovery, and extend our sincere thanks to the Town Council operative and all responding emergency services for the prompt multi-agency response.

🌊 In an emergency along the coast or at sea, dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard.

16/08/2026

🧗‍♂️ TEAM UPDATE: New Rope Rescue Technician Qualified 👏

​This morning, the Lyme Regis Coastguard team was joined on the cliffs by colleagues from West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and a HM Coastguard - Dorset, Hampshire & Isle of Wight full-time Senior Coastal Operations Officer for intensive, live technical rope rescue training.

Operating directly in a live and realistic Dorset cliff environment allowed us to run through a full spectrum of critical rescue evolutions and various recovery techniques, culminating in one of Lyme Regis’ own officially qualifying as our newest Rope Rescue Technician!

​Throughout the session, the teams practiced various specialist cliff rescue scenarios:
▪️​Immediate Descent: High-speed edge deployment designed for time-critical interventions where seconds count.
▪️​Accompanied Descent: Safely rigging and escorting an unskilled professional down the cliff face, such as a paramedic or vet, to deliver urgent on-scene treatment.
▪️​Stretcher Recovery: For casualties requiring full spinal or medical immobilisation on their upward journey.
▪️​Canine Evacuation: Securing and recovering stranded dogs using our specialist cliff rescue dog bag.

​Fortunately, the cloud cover kept the heat at bay while the teams worked through multiple lowering, hauling, and edge-transition methods.

​A huge thank you to:
▪️​West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team for the invaluable flank-team support and collaboration.
▪️The full-time Officer for giving up his weekend to assess and facilitate the training.
▪️​Members of the public for their patience and smiles as they carefully walked around our working rig area on the coastal path.

⚠️​Stay safe along the cliffs. If you or someone else is in trouble along the coastline, dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard.⚠️

13/08/2026

🚨 Casualty extraction: Undercliffs 🆘
Earlier today, the Lyme Regis Coastguard team were tasked for the second time of the day alongside our colleagues from B**r Coastguard Rescue Team.
We were called to assist a walker who had sustained a painful ankle injury while navigating the South West Coast Path in the Undercliffs near Pinhay.
Given the challenging terrain and only a vague idea on location, a multi-agency effort was required to ensure a safe recovery. Working closely alongside South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust land ambulance crews and the HART (Hazardous Area Response Team), Coastguards safely extracted the individual via stretcher through the Undercliffs to the waiting land ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

We wish the individual a speedy recovery!

🌊 In a coastal emergency, dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard.

15/07/2026

🚨 From Training to Real-Life Rescue: A Busy Evening for the Team 🆘

While many of you were settled in to watch England take on Argentina in the football this evening, our dedicated volunteers were down at the Cobb from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, putting in the hours to hone our water rescue techniques.

But as any Coastguard volunteer knows, the pager doesn’t care about the football schedule!

Just as we had finished washing down and packing away our training kit, our pagers sounded. We were tasked with a report of a near drowning and possible spinal injury on the Lyme Regis seafront.

Because the team was already together at the Cobb, we were able to respond instantly:
▪️We were on scene within just 4 minutes of the initial call.
▪️We quickly found two individuals who had sustained injuries and ingested water. Our team immediately began administering casualty care to both.
▪️We were soon joined on scene by an operational commander from the South West Ambulance Service, followed by an ambulance crew who transported both individuals to the hospital for further treatment.
We wish both of them a speedy recovery.

Our team is made up of volunteers who step away from their families, their jobs, and yes, even major England matches, at a moment's notice to keep our community safe. We are incredibly proud of the team's rapid response and professionalism tonight.
As always, a huge thank you to the public for your support, and assistance tonight and to our emergency services colleagues for their seamless teamwork.
👉 Remember: If you see anyone in difficulty along our beautiful coastline, don't hesitate. Dial 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard.

10/07/2026

On Wednesday, the Lyme Regis team had a full day of Coastguard operations, spanning a tasking in the morning and joint cliff rescue training as the sun set.
Morning Tasking:
​We worked closely alongside our colleagues from RNLI Lyme Regis whose assistance was invaluable during the incident.

​🧗‍♂️ Evening Joint Training
A few hours later in the early evening, it was back out the door as we joined our flank team, West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team, and a full time officer from HM Coastguard - Dorset, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, for a realistic rope rescue exercise at Burton Bradstock.
​The teams practiced:
▪️​Accompanied descents down the cliff face.
▪️​The use of the emergency rescue harness on the way back up.
▪️​Proper rigging and use of the dog bag for safely recovering canine casualties over the edge.

​It was a highly productive inter-team exercise working together seamlessly while the sun went down. A big thank you to the West Bay team for a great evening of training!

01/07/2026

21/06/2026

🚨☀️ HEATWAVE WARNING: Stay Safe on our Coast 🚨☀️

With the extreme heat hitting the South West, we all know our beautiful Lyme Regis beaches and coastal paths are incredibly inviting right now. However, the soaring temperatures and very high UV index bring serious often overlooked dangers. We want everyone to enjoy the sunshine, but please look out for each other by keeping these few points in mind:

👉 Beat the Heat & Hydrate 💧
The risk of dehydration and sunstroke is very high. Drink plenty of water, wear a hat, apply high-factor sunscreen, and seek shade during the hottest parts of the day.

👉 Beware of Cold Water Shock 😰
The air temperature might be roasting, but the sea remains cold enough to trigger Cold Water Shock. This can cause uncontrollable gasping, cramping and instant panic, even for strong swimmers. Enter the water slowly to let your body acclimatise, inform someone if you're going for a swim with the time you intend on getting out.

👉 Ditch the Inflatables 🚣
Inflatable toys and mattresses are designed for the swimming pool, not the sea. Even a subtle offshore breeze can catch them like a sail and blow you or your children out to sea in a matter of seconds. If you are using paddle boards or inflatable dinghies, always ensure you have a reliable, waterproof means of calling for help on your person.

👉 If You Get Into Trouble: FLOAT TO LIVE 🛟
If you find yourself struggling or panicking in the water, fight your instinct to thrash around.
▪️Lean back with your ears submerged.
▪️Relax and gently move your hands and legs to stay afloat.
▪️Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

🚨 COASTAL EMERGENCY? DIAL 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣🚨
We are a community-focused team, and we need your eyes. If you see anyone in difficulty or looking vulnerable in the water, on the beaches, or along our cliffs and coastal paths, don't hesitate.

📞 Dial 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD.