Incident Summaries

To return to the main NCI website, please use the back arrow at the top of your screen.

The Total Number of Incidents since we started recording them can be found by selecting '-Year' from the Year filter : 8365
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.
51666 02/11/2024 NCI Shoreham HMCG called NCI re. report by MOP of 5 kayaks possibly in difficulty - one had capsized. NCI established visual, had been previously logged, and they were making steady progress back to port. NFA MCA/HMCG No Yes 543030
51673 02/11/2024 NCI Whitstable Off duty W/K reported to station he was in touch with 2 persons on board a grounded yacht. They intended to stay on board until next tide. HMCG informed, and requested crew contact them on 999., Message relayed to informant, and on to crew. NCI No Yes 543061
51653 02/11/2024 NCI Worms Head NCI observed 3 MOP cut off by tide - used siren and loudhailer to tell them to stay. HMCG informed, CRT and ILB tasked, casualties recovered by ILB NCI Yes Yes 543080
51660 02/11/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed a motor launch aground on sand bank. ! person in water trying to walk it into deeper water. HMCG informed, monitoring requested. Casualties deployed anchor, and 2adults carried 2children , to the shore. Second vessel then ran aground, 2 POB, no lifejackets. CG informed. NFA while lookout remained open. NCI No Yes 543074
51663 02/11/2024 NCI St Alban's Head MOP informed NCI of an abandoned inflatable on shoreline. HMCG and Border Force informed. CRT tasked, sighted the item, which was a badly damaged tender in rocks. Photo sent to B.F. NCI No Yes 543050
51635 30/10/2024 NCI Mablethorpe NCI asked to assist in search for a vulnerable MISPER in vicinity of lookout. Police and CRT in attendance. CCTV used, and lookout used as search hub. Police then confirmed casualty had contacted, them and their whereabouts were now known. NFA Police No Yes PO1561
51624 28/10/2024 NCI Newhaven NCI observed a lone MOP, visibly upset, sitting on cliff edge. HMCG tasked CRT, who asked NCI for location. Casualty moved away, CRT made contact and safely removed casualty from edge. NCI No Yes 542397
51618 27/10/2024 NCI Wells-next-the-Sea NCI observed 5 MOP possibly cut off by tide, HMCG informed, ILB tasked. Search revealed casualties had waded ashore to safety. NCI Yes Yes 542288
51629 27/10/2024 NCI Porthcawl NCI observed 2 RIBs, one of which had broken down. 1 POB on broken down RIB. Second tried to tow . HMCG informed, ILB tasked, and both RIBs assured LB they were fine, with all equipment needed., NCI monitored until safely back ashore. NCI Yes Yes n/a
51606 26/10/2024 NCI Brancaster NCI observed 5 MOP cut off by tide. 2 waded ashore, 3 remained on island. HMCG informed, RNLI hovercraft tasked, and recovered casualties to mainland, no injuries. NCI Yes Yes 542133
51608 25/10/2024 NCI Felixstowe Local gig reported to NCI a kayaker potentially in trouble. HMCG informed, CRT and ILB tasked. casualty was reported to be fine, no assistance required. NCI Yes Yes 542013
51610 25/10/2024 NCI Shoreham NCI observed an inflatable drifting to the west. HMCG called NCI as MOP had reported concern. NCI informed CG they were 2 fishermen drift fishing, no problem. Vessel moved away later. MCA/HMCG No Yes 542009
51594 24/10/2024 NCI Lee-on-the-Solent Police approached NCI re search for distressed individual, at same time as HMCG informed NCI of same. CCTV made available, and person seen which helped search. Police then informed NCI person had been, located, CG updated. MCA/HMCG No Yes 541935
51595 24/10/2024 NCI Boscastle MOP informed NCI a friend intended walking onto the coast path to observe sunrise, but could not be contacted. NCI searched path, without success, HMCG informed. CG then were told casualty had , been found, unwell but not in danger. NFA. NCI No Yes 541904
51599 24/10/2024 NCI Teignmouth HMCG called NCI re. report of 3 paddle boarders struggling, visual requested. NCI had already logged them as members of surf rescue team. Visual established and all reached shore safely without help. MCA/HMCG No Yes 541900
51586 23/10/2024 NCI St Ives Deputy Station Manager took ill and collapsed while at Lookout. 999 called to ask for ambulance, but refused as too busy. Called 111 but no assistance given. W/K then drove him home and informed, his wife. Paramedics to attend home. Casualty recovered later. NCI No No n/a
51590 21/10/2024 NCI Cromer MOP handed in a backpack to NCI. They had found it on the beach and no-one had claimed it after 90 minutes. HMCG informed, Photo sent to CG, CRT not available to investigate. Backpack still at , NCI station. Nothing further from CG. NCI No Yes 541538
51607 21/10/2024 NCI Felixstowe MOP reported to NCI a dead porpoise was on beach. HMCG informed, CRT tasked. Carcase had drifted offshore so NFA. NCI No Yes 541536
51578 21/10/2024 NCI Llandudno NCI was informed of a collapsed person in sand dunes. HMCG informed, W/K asked to try to locate casualty, but search was negative. CRT tasked, and situation dealt with by CG. NCI No Yes 541527
515569 20/10/2024 NCI Exmouth Following call from RNLI, NCI confirmed sighting of 1 paddle boarder in estuary, 4 having been logged earlier. ILB launched, NCI unable to contact ILB as 3 others located. HMCG informed. , All PBs then reached shore safely. RNLI Yes Yes 541345
51579 20/10/2024 NCI St Ives HMCG called NCI re. body boarder in trouble off beach. NCI identified casualty and informed CG a second surfer was paddling to assist. Casualty was safely returned to beach by surfer. CG informed. MCA/HMCG No Yes 541405
51570 19/10/2024 NCI Porthcawl HMCG tasked CRT re. person stuck in mud. NCI asked to scan area, camera identified casualty and was linked through to CG. Fire service on scene and extracted casualty. All safe, but hospital advised. MCA/HMCG No Yes 541231
51574 19/10/2024 NCI Mablethorpe MOP called NCI re. capsized yacht, just off beach. Crew managed to right vessel, 2 ILBs tasked and escorted yacht to safety of harbour. MCA/HMCG No Yes 541200
51555 18/10/2024 NCI Charmouth NCI observed object in water, possible upturned boat, HMCG informed, photo sent. It was decided it was a log. ILB tasked, then NCI advised CG log had come ashore. ILB stood down. NCI Yes Yes 541065
51542 17/10/2024 NCI Gorleston NCI observed a MOP on sea side of barriers on pier. Potential self harm. HMCG informed, CRT, Police, and ambulance attended. Casualty had history of such events and was known to NCI and Police. NCI No Yes 540907
51544 17/10/2024 NCI Torbay HMCG called NCI re. suspected person in water. Clothing found on beach. CRT, HELO, ILB and AWLB tasked to search. Possible contact in scallop beds was a buoy. Person identified from clothing, and was found at home safe and well. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 540913
51550 17/10/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head HMCG phoned NCI re. report from MOP of motor boat aground. NCI informed CG they had visual. NCI then reported to CG vessel was afloat but running erratically, with damage. ILB tasked and towed , casualty back to harbour MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 540964
51557 17/10/2024 NCI Wells-next-the-Sea 2 MsOP reported to NCI a person lying on beach with dog, possibly been drinking. W/K could not contact paramedic so called HMCG, CRT tasked. CRT contacted person in car park, and considered , her to be unfit to drive. NCI No Yes 540963
51535 16/10/2024 NCI Calshot Tower NCI observed a yacht run aground, HMCG informed. Monitoring requested. ILB tasked, NCI gave position to LB. LB confirmed crew were happy to wait for rising tide to refloat. NCI continued to monitor. NCI Yes Yes 540807
51524 15/10/2024 NCI Rame Head HMCG called NCI requesting search for yacht missing for 3 days. Nothing seen. Vessel believed to have engine failure, 1 POB. Pan Pan issued. FV reported sighting, AWLB tasked, and assisted , casualty back to port. Police met vessel to discuss safety at sea. MCA/HMCG Yes Yes 540554
51525 15/10/2024 NCI Folkestone NCI observed an object, possibly a paddle board, adrift. HMCG informed. ILB tasked, and used Y Boat to retrieve object, which was found to be a balloon. NCI Yes Yes 540671
51528 15/10/2024 NCI Calshot Tower NCI observed a container vessel drop anchor, and two tugs arrive on scene. HMCG tried to contact vessel without success, so NCI informed CG they had visual, and gave an update,, Casualty then recovered anchor, advised tugs the main engine had restarted and was under way. Tugs stood by as precaution, CG updated by NCI. MCA/HMCG No Yes 540687
51503 14/10/2024 NCI Canvey Island NCI observed several large inflatable pontoons were being driven to shoreline by tide and wind. HMCG informed, CRT arrived and removed 10 pontoons. MCA/HMCG No Yes 540536
51504 14/10/2024 NCI Filey HMCG called NCI re. 3 MOP cut off by tide. No other people visible, NCI informed CG there was no immediate danger if they knew the route back. CRT tasked, and 2 casualties made there way back to shore MCA/HMCG No Yes 540569
51487 13/10/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head NCI observed a MOP sitting on cliff edge. W/K went to chat, but no response, person looked upset. HMCG informed, CRT and ambulance tasked.Police also arrived, and engaged with casualty. , Casualty left with Police, CRT stood down. NCI No Yes 540487
51486 12/10/2024 NCI Porthcawl HMCG called NCI re. report from MOP of person in water, in a survival suit. Search requested. Nothing seen, CRT tasked. Open water swimmers seen, no problems, assets stood down. MCA/HMCG No Yes 540329
51480 11/10/2024 NCI Rame Head HMCG issued Pan Pan re. RIB with engine problems. Tow required. NCI confirmed to CG they had visual. Police launch attended and towed casualty back to safety. NCI updated CG. MCA/HMCG No Yes 540230
51460 09/10/2024 NCI Nare Point Yacht called second yacht to warn they were running into danger. No response, NCI had visual on both. NCI considered there was no danger. HMCG called NCI for information, NCI told CG all safe., Vessels cleared danger and went on way. MCA/HMCG No Yes 539995
51461 09/10/2024 NCI Hengistbury Head Pan Pan from yacht caught in lobster pot line. NCI informed HMCG they had visual. Seastart were called, asked NCI to inform CG. Diver went down and cut vessel free, Pan Pan cancelled. MCA/HMCG No Yes 540004
51472 09/10/2024 NCI Shoreham MOP reported to NCI a inflatable with several POB drifting west of station. Nothing seen, HMCG informed. CRT tasked, and search revealed nothing. Attempts to contact informant failed., Suspected hoax, NFA NCI No Yes 539971

© National Coastwatch Institution 2012-2024
Registered Charity No. 1159975