Coastguard: Every Second Counts

A distress call from a satellite phone comes in from the uninhabitable granite islet Rockall. The casualty was out raising money for charity when the weather turned for the worse and became a threat to his life. Approximately 240 nautical miles away in Stornoway, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 948 is the only option with the capability to help save the casualty, even though the tasking is just outside their operational remit. So time and fuel are the key factors to everyone's survival.

MCA Surveyor Chris receives two complaints about a foreign registered ship, currently docked in Teesport. Initial reports state a dangerous gangway that is an unsafe means of access for crew members. This can lead to serious injury and in some cases, loss of life. On arrival to inspect the vessel, Chris not only spots the hazardous gangway but a host of other issues which could mean detention of the vessel.

In Aberdaron, north Wales, an onlooker spots a dog down the side of a cliff, with no sign of the owner. Aeronautical Rescue are alerted by the Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre as they fear the owner of the animal may have fallen down the cliff. Rescue Helicopter 936, as well as Aberdaron Coastguard Rescue Team are both tasked with a search for a possible missing person and to rescue the marooned dog.

Five people are stranded down Trevone round hole in Cornwall with Newquay and Padstow Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRTs) tasked to help the isolated casualties. The 80 foot blow hole is linked to the sea and can easily flood when the tide comes in, so the CRTs waste no time in setting up their kit for a technical rope rescue as they'll need to send a cliff technician down the hole to save the casualties.