Coastguards rescue school party which had become lost and disorientated

THE UK coastguard received a request from the Kent Police at 9pm on the evening of Monday June 6, who advised that a party of 34 teenagers and two teachers had become lost during a coastal walk at St Margaret’s Bay near Dover.

The UK coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd, the Dover RNLI lifeboat, two Walmer RNLI lifeboats, the Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team and the Ambulance service were sent to the area.

Modern technology, in many forms, came to the fore in this rescue with the teenagers using their phones to report their difficulty and to shine a light for the coastguards to see and then for the helicopter team to spot them using an infrared camera.

Most of them were evacuated by lifeboat but the helicopter had to land to pick up five of the party and all were united without any injury other than to their pride.

According to a coastguard blog, the Coxswain of Dover RNLI, Mark Finnis, said “The group were caught out by a rising tide. Thankfully the quick and well coordinated search and rescue response meant all 36 casualties and rescued were lucky to escape without serious injuries, but they’ve had a traumatic experience.”