Night of Rescues and Environmental Monitoring for Bude Coastguard

In the early hours of Saturday, February 24th, 2024, the Bude Coastguard Rescue Team was mobilised for a critical rescue operation on Sandymouth Beach. At 01:26, following a distress call, the team was tasked by the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to assist an adult male reported to be in peril, stuck on the rocky terrains of the beach. To bolster the rescue efforts, the Hartland Coastguard Rescue Team was also scrambled to the scene, while Bude RNLI Lifeboat and RNLI Appledore Lifeboat Station were placed on standby, ready to provide additional support if needed.

Upon arrival, the Bude team swiftly located and recovered the individual from the precarious situation on the beach. After a thorough assessment by the Rescue Team, it was determined that the male required no further medical attention, allowing all units involved to stand down and return to their respective bases.

Later that same day, the Bude Coastguard was once again called into action, this time for a different kind of mission on Crooklets Beach. The team responded to reports of a deceased porpoise that had washed ashore. As part of HM Coastguard’s responsibility to attend to reports of deceased ‘Royal Fish,’ which includes whales, porpoises, and dolphins, the Rescue Officers conducted a detailed examination of the marine mammal. They took photographs, measurements, and made observations, all of which were submitted to the Receiver of Wreck via Falmouth MRCC, contributing valuable data for scientific and conservation purposes.

The Bude Coastguard Rescue Team reminds the public of the importance of reporting any sightings of deceased whales, porpoises, or dolphins on the beach to the Receiver of Wreck, ensuring a prompt and respectful handling of these marine animals. Moreover, in case of any emergency on the coast, the public is urged to dial 999 and request the Coastguard, underlining the critical role of community cooperation in both rescue operations and environmental conservation efforts.