Incident Summaries

The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 7772
Alternatively select a specific year to see how many Incidents were reported for that Year.

During 2020 all NCI stations closed for two months at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. On re-opening most stations were single-crewed for the rest of the year.


Please note: NCI Canvey Island was previously know as NCI Holehaven and moved location on Monday 18 October 2021. All NCI Canvey Island Incident Summaries before that date will be in respect of NCI Holehaven at its previous location.

Glossary of Terms
FAWGI = False Alarm With Good Intent, MoP = Member of the Public, NFA = No Further Action, HMCG, CG or MCA = Coastguard, MisPer = Missing Person
CRT = Coastguard Rescue Team, CGOC = Coast Guard Operations Centre, ILB/ALB/LB = Lifeboats, MV = Motor Vessel, MB = Motor Boat,
ML = Motor Launch, FV = Fishing Vessel, PB = Power Boat, PWC = Personal Water Craft ("Jet Ski"), RIB = Rigid Inflatable Boat,
VLCC = Very Large Crude Carrier, UKBF = UK Border Force
Incident No. Date of Incident Station Name Incident Summary Initiated by Lifeboat involved MCA MCA No.
48736 28/01/2024 NCI Lyme Bay NCI reported exact location of a dead porpoise to HMCG. It had been reported to NCI by a MOP. CRT tasked to take photos. NCI No Yes 502553
48737 28/01/2024 NCI Porthcawl NCI asked to continue assistance in looking for MISPER (see I/R 48712 - 23/1/24). Extensive search involving CRT, ILB, Police (incl aircraft) was ongoing and was now a body recovery. Search continued , for several days. A body was reported on beach, camera visual was requested, and linked to control centre. Assets stood down, and NCI thanked for involvement in search over six days. Police Yes Yes POL412
48729 27/01/2024 NCI Mundesley Elderly MOP fell close to lookout, and sustained head injury. NCI called ambulance on 999. First responder, then ambulance attended, and casualty went to hospital by own means. NCI No No n/a
48725 26/01/2024 NCI Charmouth MOP reported to NCI a live flare on beach. HMCG informed, photos taken and sent to CG. CRT recovered old hand held flare, NFA NCI No Yes 502366
48731 26/01/2024 NCI Exmouth HMCG contacted NCI, re. MOP stuck in mud. Visual by CCTV not possible as out of range. F.B and CRT deployed, and casualty taken off on rescue mat. No injuries. MCA/HMCG No Yes 502367
48717 25/01/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed ILB attending to a foil boarder in difficulty. NCI then observed a second foil boarder in difficulty, and informed HMCG. ILB then tasked to second casualty, and returned them to beach. NCI Yes Yes 502284
48716 24/01/2024 NCI Penzance HMCG informed NCI a missing person search was taking place, description given, multiple assets involved since early hours. Casualty eventually found, hypothermic but alive. Police Yes Yes 502115
48718 24/01/2024 NCI Porthcawl HMCG informed NCI they had a report of a surfer in trouble, by MOP. NCI confirmed visual, but not in trouble. CG asked NCI to monitor, but ILB tasked, and it confirmed no-one was in trouble. NFA. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 502202
48712 23/01/2024 NCI Porthcawl NCI w/k contacted S.M. re. report of MOP walking into water at beach. S.M opened watch so cameras could be used. AWLB, HELO on scene with searchlights. Too rough for ILB. Casualty reported as , vulnerable and had been drinking. Nothing seen, NCI stood down. Following day, search continued, CRT searching at low tide. Two false alarms sighted. Search continued - negative., Casualty still missing, and all awaiting further action from Police. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 502129
48695 21/01/2024 NCI Stone Point HMCG advised NCI that a MOP had reported 2 paddle boarders travelling at speed. NCI observed PBs foil pumping, and they landed on beach. CG updated. W/k contacted PBs and ascertained they were , driving back to their launch location. Both well. MCA/HMCG No Yes 501901
48701 21/01/2024 NCI Charmouth NCI had call on CH65 re. injured walker. CRT and ILB tasked, Call updated to 3 MOP, 3 dogs, one casualty has broken ankle and are cut off by tide. HELO tasked and evacuation requested. Casualties, and dogs recovered by HELO, injured casualty transferred to ambulance. NFA MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 501915
48691 19/01/2024 NCI Charmouth NCI informed HMCG a swimmer was in difficulty. beach attendants threw lifebuoys, but casualty too far out. Casualty eventually swam back with assistance from another swimmer. All well, NFA. NCI No Yes 501725
48682 18/01/2024 NCI Prawle Point NCI observed a drifting yellow object, HMCH informed. Nearby vessel investigated, and suspected temporary fishing buoy adrift. CG informed. NCI No Yes 501580
48671 17/01/2024 NCI Polruan MOP had advised harbour commission that the Cannes Buoy light was failing. S.M observed buoy from home, and it was out by 20.00hrs. HMCG and Trinity house advised. T.H. vessel scheduled to visit. NCI No Yes n/a
48669 15/01/2024 NCI Southend NCI overheard message from HMCG re. unidentified floating object, believed to be a dog. CRT called NCI re. visual which was established. Object at limit of visibility, then lost vision as light fell., No conclusive outcome heard from CRT. MCA/HMCG No Yes 501346
48652 14/01/2024 NCI Fleetwood NCI observed 2 bait diggers in estuary on flooding tide. HMCG informed. NI requested to monitor. ILB, on exercise in area, asked to look for casualties. Nothing found in poor visibility. NFA NCI Yes Yes 501219
48654 14/01/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head MOP informed NCI of an upturned Paddle Board. HMCG informed, ILB and CRT tasked, hoping to be conned onto object by MOP, but they had moved on. ILB found large log, which informant confirmed, was what they saw. Log too large so left to drift, and Hazard to Navigation issued. NCI Yes Yes 501254
48648 13/01/2024 NCI St Alban's Head NCI informed HMCG there were items on shore line. Screenshot sent. Marine Police contacted NCI, CRT arrived. Police and CRT dealt with items. NCI No Yes 501142
48645 12/01/2024 NCI Teignmouth MOP reported to NCI a person had collapsed on sea wall. Ambulance called by W/K, HMCG advised. First responder and ambulance attended casualty, and transferred for further care. NCI No Yes AM7966
48631 10/01/2024 NCI Folkestone HMCG tasked NCI Folkstone to make a visual scan for IFV adrift in harbour - NCI confirmed sighting and monitored. LB launched and recovered vessel. NCI stood down MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500861
48599 08/01/2024 NCI Cape Cornwall MOP reported to NCI Cape Cornwall discarded fishing gear washed up on Beach - NCI contacted HMCG who tasked ST Ives CRT to recover NCI No Yes 500639
48604 08/01/2024 NCI Newhaven HMCG tasked NCI Newhaven to make visual search for woman standing on rocks near RNLI station. NCI confirmed and that she appeared not to be in imminent danger. HMCG tasked LB to check - NCI stood down MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500712
48601 07/01/2024 NCI Gosport Mayday heard from IOW Ferry- fire on board. Vessel under contro; proceeding to to normal dock. NCI Gosport had visual and monitored MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500644
48616 07/01/2024 NCI Needles HMCG requested NCI Needles to walk along the coastpath to try and locate a yacht that was unsure of position, WK observed lone yacht and reported position to CG who tasked LB, NCI stood down MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500647
48577 06/01/2024 NCI St Alban's Head MOP contacted NCI having found 3 objects resembling grenades at Chaplins Pool - MOP emailed pictures which were forwarded to HMCG, Police elected not to attend so CRT were tasked. NCI were stood down and disposal team expected next day NCI No Yes 500529
48579 06/01/2024 NCI Chapel Point NCI Chapel Point observed 6-7 motorcycles racing on beach amongst MOP - informed Police on 101 NCI No No
48585 06/01/2024 NCI Southend NCI Southend observed 2 persons running on to MPD land - one had dog lead poss searching for dog, NCI reported to CG. Person returned and spoke to NCI - lost dog. NCI poss sighting approx 1 mile., MOP reported sighting RNLI Hovercraft launched. - NCI Stood down NCI Yes Yes 500547
48590 06/01/2024 NCI Newhaven HMCG tasked NCI Newhaven to make visual search for vulnerable person. Search made - nothing found. Pol called in - still no sighting, Delayed closing Lookout until failing light, CG stood NCI down MCA/HMCG No Yes
48568 06/01/2024 NCI Torbay HMCG passed info to NCI Torbay re Missing Person from day before. Kept observtions while -ILB CG Helo searched until stood down MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500514
48549 04/01/2024 NCI Bembridge search by CRT from previous day continued for missing person. ILB joined in. NCI requested to relay messages on CH 00, BILB relay probable position of body smell picked up by pol dog - poss body had been there previously. Search stopped MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500337
48551 04/01/2024 NCI Porthcawl HMCG tasked NCI Porthcawl to make visual search for reported swimmer in trouble - scan made with CCTV - nothing sighted - CG requested continued, scanning. Confirmed sighting was a buoy/ pot marker. NCI thanked and stood down MCA/HMCG No Yes 500361
48533 03/01/2024 NCI Bembridge JRCC tasked to make visual on missing person - full scan made - nothing found. ILB/CRT tasked MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500258
48536 03/01/2024 NCI Bembridge Continuation - CRT and HELO continued search. CRT requested NCI to act as relay on CH 00 in necessary. Male in dark clothing . NCI reported by Phone possible sighting. HELO made search - nothing , found. All stood down MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 500258
48535 03/01/2024 NCI Fleetwood HMCG requested NCI Fleetwood to observe and monitor MOP stuck in mud. CRT on scene - extracted casualty MCA/HMCG No Yes 500267
48546 03/01/2024 NCI Shoreham RNLI reported ALB searching for kite surfer = board found on beach. not met friends, NCI used CCTV - nothing seen. Person found on land - stood down RNLI Yes Yes 500272
48507 02/01/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head Ch65 call received by NCI Hengistbury Head re yacht adrift in Harbour had visual - contacted HMCG, yacht now washed up on slipway - BCP in attendance. NCI stood down MCA/HMCG No Yes 500175
48515 02/01/2024 NCI Boscastle In extreme weather conditions NCI Boscastle were aware of two persons and dog clinging to the building - very distressed. Taken into Lookout . Received ch65 call from CRT requesting info on two walker, proved to be the ones sheltering. then later requested sightings of other walkers - not seen. Wind subsided and walkers made own way back under observation NCI No No
48524 02/01/2024 NCI Exmouth MOP advised passage by SUP and Kite Board from Exmouth to Sidmouth not to attempt passage owing to adverse conditions, NCI Exmouth notified HMCG and RNLI NCI No Yes N/A
48483 01/01/2024 NCI Porthcawl HMCG asked NCI to gain visual on 2 surfers, after call from MOP. Visibility poor, visual difficult. CG informed. @ casualties seen, ILB tasked, but casualties self rescued. CG informed, LB stood down. Fire Yes Yes 500081
48461 29/12/2023 NCI Penzance NCI observed 3 Paddle Boarders, and logged progress. MOP called HMCG re. concerns for them, and NCI asked to look. NCI replied they seemed fine, however due to conditions, ILB tasked to intercept., ILB reported they were fine, and was stood down. PBs reached shore safely, CG informed. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 546093

About

Currently almost 60 National Coastwatch stations are operational and manned by over 2600 volunteer watchkeepers around the British Isles from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Filey in North Yorkshire. 

National Coastwatch watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the National Coastwatch ensures that high standards are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The words National Coastwatch Institution and Eyes Along the Coast and the NCI logos are Registered Trademarks of NCI.

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