South Eastern Division Injured climber SWANAGE COASTGUARD requested the launch of Swanage lifeboat at 1710 on Saturday June 16, 1979, to go to the help of a seriously injured cliff climber at Ragged Rocks, some quarter of a mile west of Anvil Point. Maroons were fired and at 1720 the 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat J. Reginald Corah launched down her slipway with Coxswain/ Mechanic Victor A. C. Marsh in command. Some three minutes later a message came that a helicopter from the SAR flight at HMS Daedalus had been scrambled and was on her way.

The tide was four hours ebb and a gentle to moderate breeze, force 3 to 4, was blowing from west by south. The sea was smooth and visibility good.

At 1734 Swanage lifeboat anchored about 25 yards off Ragged Rocks and lay tide rode while her Avon Redcrest dinghy was inflated and launched.

Crew Member John Corben, a first aider, and Crew Member Christopher Haw, a first aider under training, embarked in the dinghy taking with them a stretcher, two first aid kits, inflatable splints and blankets. They had a difficult passage, rowing between rocks with the ground swell sometimes rising to four feet and both men were soon soaking wet, but on their way in they sighted the casualty on a rocky ledge some ten yards inshore.

As they reached shore they were joined by a skin diver, Patrick Allen, who was in the area with his boat, Colleen.

He swam ashore in his wet suit and, by tending the dinghy lines and giving general assistance to the lifeboatmen, did all that he could to help.

The rock on which the casualty lay.

attended by his climbing companion, was under a sheer cliff with a slight overhang which was obstructing the Coastguard cliff rescue team in its attempts to reach the man from above.

The cliff top, moreover, was unstable so that there was danger of loose rock falling down. One piece did strike Crew Member Haw on his head and back.but without injury; both lifeboatmen were wearing crash helmets.

The casualty was found to be suffering from serious injuries caused by a large falling boulder. His companion had done what he could for him and the two lifeboatmen dressed his wounds and applied an inflatable splint to his left leg, which was fractured. Then Crew Member Haw rowed back to the lifeboat to report to Coxswain Marsh that as falling rock made it too dangerous for the injured man to be lifted up the cliff by the Coastguard rescue team and the swell made it too dangerous for him to be taken off by the dinghy, it would be best for him to be lifted off by helicopter.

Christopher Haw was just being ferried back to shore by Second Coxswain Phillip Dorey when Wessex helicopter 813, piloted by Lt Ray Colborne, RN, arrived overhead. While her equipment was being prepared, however, it was found that her winch gear was not working correctly. Lt Colborne called for a second helicopter and then, by rigging a jury winch strop and hovering with great skill very low indeed, he managed to transfer helicopter 813's diver and stretcher to the lifeboat. These in turn were ferried ashore by Second Coxswain Dorey.

At just about the same time Swanage honorary medical adviser, Dr William Tudor-Thomas, arrived on the cliff-top.

He had heard the maroons while on medical visits in the town and, on learning the details of the service, had set out at once. Helicopter 813 landed on the cliff top, picked up Dr Tudor- Thomas complete with his medical bag and, once again having to hover very low, put him aboard the lifeboat. He was kitted out in oilskins, lifejacket and helmet and ferried ashore where, at 1810, he took over the care of the injured man from John Corben and Christopher Haw; he later gave high praise to the first aid work that had been done.

Wessex helicopter 811, piloted by Lt Michael Ellis, RN, arrived from HMS Daedalus at 1820. As she did not carry a radio giving SAR VHP channels, helicopter 813 remained on scene to provide a communications link.

The injured man was carefully transferred to the RN stretcher already brought ashore and he was then carried to a large flat rock as clear as possible of the cliff overhang. It still meant that Lt Ellis had to work very close to the cliff but, with immense skill, the stretcher was safely winched into the helicopter, followed by the naval diver.

Dr Tudor-Thomas asked that, rather than delay further to lift him aboard, the helicopter should make all possible speed for Poole.

Helicopter 811 landed at Poole at 1834. The injured man was transferred to a waiting ambulance and taken directly to hospital where, sadly, he died later in the evening.

By 1837 helicopter 813 had been called called to help a capsized boat off Portland Bill and Second Coxswain Dorey had started to ferry everyone back from the shore. Patrick Allen to his own boat and the second climber, Dr Tudor- Thomas and Crew Members Corben and Haw to the lifeboat. On the last trip the inflatable dinghy was dashed against a jagged rock in the ground swell and badly punctured but enough buoyancy remained for the occupants to reach the lifeboat safely, though wet.

At 1858 the lifeboat weighed anchor and by 1906 had made the passage back to station, where the climber and Dr Tudor-Thomas were put ashore. The lifeboat was rehoused by 1940 and minutes later was again ready for service.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Honorary Medical Adviser Dr William R. Tudor-Thomas and Crew Members John E. Corben and T.

Christopher Haw, and vellum service certificates were presented to Coxswain/ Mechanic Victor A. C. Marsh, Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Phillip J. Dorey and Crew Members Walter E. Bishop, Ian P. Marsh and David G. Corben. Letters of thanks signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Lt Ray Colborne, RN, Lt Michael Ellis, RN, and the crews of helicopters 813 and 811; to HM Coastguard Station Officer W. Tolman and the Coastguard cliff rescue team: and to Patrick Allen..