Today marked a huge step for us. Whilst I am still firmly furloughed (well not a lot of work for an invigilator when all exams have been cancelled) Nigel returned to some of his work today. It was safe work, outdoors and brief jobs but a little way to travel. But that was Ok as we travelled together and tried to view it - very successfully - as a day out.
On our way to work we had a beautiful drive through the Dorset countryside. Now here I must stop a while and relay what happened in our gorgeous, quiet county this weekend. We always knew it would be a problem when lockdown was eased. we are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the country (and pay a premium for that) but it makes it very desirable for others to visit with no recourse for what those visits might mean. Dorset is a small and relatively unspoilt county with some 800000 residents. We have no cities, no motorways, in fairness not that many dual carriageways, and we have beautiful historic heathland and villages and miles and miles of beaches and the world heritage Jurassic coastline. It is the county of Thomas Hardy, of sleepy stone built thatched cottages, of farmland and castles and churches and utter beauty. Our large towns are few and even they are not huge, our hospitals are small, matching the size of the county they serve, and tourism has always been a major industry since Victorian times. And yes, when it is safe we need the hotels and guesthouses, the pubs and campsites to re-open but it is too early and they rightly remain closed. However, that didn't stop thousands and thousands from descending on the area over the weekend. People from far away. Our roads were congested with traffic usually seen on a summer bank holiday, our beaches were crowded with little recourse for social distancing and our beauty spots were crammed. we had already suffered a local disaster as hectares and hectares of Wareham forest burnt for days as the result of a stupid disposable BBQ that should never have been used. Police stopped 16 such BBQ's in Studland alone at the weekend. The area is all tinder dry. People camped out on the beaches overnight - not allowed. They went through closed roads, parked wherever they fancied on grass verges when the car parks were full. And at Durdle Door on Saturday there were major incidents.
Apologies for more details than some of you would wish for but I want to record this here.
An accurate timeline of exactly what happened at Durdle Door, which saw four injured and thousands forced to gather and then evacuate the beach, is starting to come together.
Coastguard Rescue Team have given an account of the rescue operation at Durdle Door yesterday where at least three people were injured jumping from the Door into the sea - a distance of around 70ft. Two helicopters, coastguard first responders, lifeboat crews, police and land ambulances were on the scene, trying to treat those injured as well as dispersing the thousands of beachgoers who had ventured there for a day in the sun.
This is from the Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team ....
*CALL OUTS* 25 - 28. 30/05/20
An afternoon none of our team will forget in a hurry.
The pagers sounded at 15:50, Solent asked the team to assist South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust with a casulty who had been pulled from the sea bed after jumping from Durdle Door. Also tasked were Lulworth First Responders Kimmeridge Coastguard, Weymouth Lifeboat, Dorset Police, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Coastguard Rescue 175.
Arriving on scene, the team made their way down the steps to the beach, locating the casualty near to the base of the steps.
He was receiving help from the medical professionals already on scene. Lulworth CRT began to create a landing site for the helicopter.
The beach had thousands of people on it and we thank the majority of people who complied with our shouting to clear a helicopter landing site, a very difficult challenge.
Helimed landed on the beach. We were then made aware of a second casualty 2/3 of the way around the beach who had also jumped from the door. Somehow he had managed stagger back to his friends before falling very unwell.
The paramedics deemed his injuries very serious and requested that like the first casualty, he be flown to the major trauma centre in Southampton.
Team members and police now had to clear a second landing site for Rescue 175 which had been circling the area. The beach was cleared, many day trippers now on Scratchy Bottom beach.
The second helicopter landed, unloaded their paramedic and stretcher before returning to base to refuel. The second casualty was carefully prepared for hospital.
The first helicopter then left scene, flying at best speed to Southampton. The police then declared the beach to be closed. The thousands caught in-between the two landing sites now asked to leave the beach.
Our Senior Coastal Operations Officer had been maintaining communications on high ground when a third casualty made himself known to him. He had also jumped from Durdle Door and had serious injuries to his torso. An ambulance crew (one of five on site) dealt with his injuries and took him to Dorset County Hospital on Dorchester.
Rescue 175 was now back on scene and landed again on the beach. The second casualty was loaded on board, and flown to Southampton. They were met by our colleagues at Hill Head Coastguard Rescue Team who assisted with the transfers.
The remaining beach goers were now asked to leave.
The police had to deal with alcohol fuelled minor scuffles, as well as a small but out of control fire from a BBQ.
On returning up the steps, a fourth casualty had identified on high ground above Durdle Door. The lady had a suspected broken ankle and due to gradient of the hill, a stretcher carry out was too risky. Coastgaurd Rescue 187 from St Athan was sent to the area. They dropped their paramedics on top of the hill, and walked down to the lady. She was placed in a rescue strop and winched into the aircraft. They flew her to the top of the hill and transferred her to a land ambulance.
After a debrief, Lulworth and Kimmeridge retuned to their stations at about 21:30.
We understand that four individuals jumped from Durdle Door (some 70ft) yesterday, encouraged by the crowds on the beach.
Two of which are now seriously injured.
Upsetting scenes like we and many others witnessed yesterday illustrate how very dangerous tombstoning is. We couldn’t discourage it enough.
Thank you everyone who helped in one way or another yesterday including the Lulworth Estate staff who, as usual, were integral to keeping traffic flowing aiding emergency vehicles entering the area.
We wish all the casualties the very best.
We would also like to reiterate our thanks to the vast majority of beach goers who were patient and cooperative in what was very difficult situation. Described as a critical incident by police.
If anyone in that crowd had COVID even if they were asymptomatic, the air ambulance would have caused such a downdraft it will have infected so many on that beach.
After the incident the roads to Lulworth were closed. People ignore the closure signs and went anyway, flouting the law and this is a report from yesterday!!
*CALL OUT* 29 - 31/05/20
The team have just retired from another call to Durdle Door. Solent Coastguard - Operations Centre requested the team to assist the police in removing people from the arch at 12:50 this afternoon.
The team arrived and worked with the police to clear the high ground that leads to the arch.
With no further persons in trouble, the team were stood down and returned to station.
So you can perhaps understand why we in Dorset are worried. Why we wish there had been a limit put on distance travelled. The South west, which had the lowest incidence rate of COVID in the country has now leaped to the top of the league table for their R rate. Thankfully not the death rate but there could well be a sharp rise in a couple of weeks time. Our council have written to MPs but we know nothing will change and we are all sad and cross and worried.
Anyway - I digress. Having given you a bit of history we headed off to the Isle of Purbeck for work today and it was quiet and beautiful and serene and like it usually is.
We serviced the petrol stations we were contracted to work in and as one was in Swanage we took our daily walk along a very very quiet beach. It was beautiful
and before we did the Poole garages - well it would have been rude not to visit Starbucks. It was safe as only the drive through is open, we pay by phone which only we need to touch and we have the cups delivered into plastic bags we are holding open and our own straws so nothing is touched and we are happy with that. Normality is slowly returning.
