Howick Coastguard Rescue Team

24/05/2026

📟Incident📟 23/5/26
The team were tasked to assist flank team Amble Coastguard Rescue Team and Amble RNLI with reports of somebody in difficulty in water off Warkworth Beach. Person was assisted by Amble RNLI & Amble CRT - and passed to NEAS paramedics on return to RNLI station.

Remember if you or you see anybody in difficulty in the sea or along the coast don’t hesitate to 📞 999 and ask for the Coastguard

21/05/2026

The team were tasked to Dunstanburgh Castle to attend to somebody injured following a fall. 5 of the team responded quickly. Initial casualty care assessment and treatment was provided until our colleagues from North East Ambulance Service were able to attend. The casualty was handed over to their care and we were able to assist getting the casualty and ambulance crew to the ambulance for onward transfer for further medical treatment.

We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.

Remember don’t hesitate to call the Coastguard if you or you see someone in difficulty near the coastline or in the sea.

04/05/2026

⚠️ HAZARD WARNING – BOULMER HAVEN / BOULMER BEACH ⚠️

A member of the public has reported an area of quicksand at Boulmer Haven / Boulmer Beach.

Please take extreme care if visiting the area:

• Avoid soft or unstable sand/mud
• Keep children and dogs well away
• Stick to firm ground and marked paths where possible
• Do not attempt to cross questionable areas

If you become stuck, stay calm, avoid sudden movements, and call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard.

Please share this warning to help keep others safe.

22/04/2026

🛑 Not every training session is high intensity, but that doesn’t mean it’s not vital.

Last night, our team focused on something that underpins everything we do — being ready when communication fails.

We put our Business Continuity Plan into action, stepping through what happens during a communications outage.

From setting up emergency transmitter/receiver equipment to sharpening our VHF radio skills, every detail matters when lives could be on the line.

This wasn’t about speed or pressure — it was about precision.

By slowing things down, we created space to learn, question, and improve.

Less experienced team members took the lead in setting up systems, supported by the wider team.

The result? Growing confidence, stronger understanding, and smoother, more effective setups across the board.

These are the sessions that truly prepare us for when it really matters.

🚨 If you ever see someone in trouble along our coastline, don’t hesitate — call 📞 999 and ask for the coastguard.

📟 Training today to protect our community tomorrow — 24/7

💙
Your Howick Coastguard Rescue Team

01/04/2026

A hot topic of conversation at the moment amongst everyone is, obviously, the rise in fuel prices, with no sign of them coming down for the foreseeable future.

In order to address this issue early on, and to be responsible with taxpayers money, HM Coastguard have chosen Howick as one of the rural stations around the UK to trial traditional methods of transport, which the Coastguard have used in their past 200+ years history.

The new HM Coastguard 'Animal Powered Rescue Initiative for Lifesaving - Field Operations On‑Land' has arrived today for trials. Given the rugged and rural terrain of Howick's 'patch' the all hoof drive will pay immense dividends, as well as saving on fuel costs and being very environmentally friendly (we'll have the best rose beds in the area!).

If the trial is successful we will apply to have a stable built alongside the station but currently, our 4 legged transport is residing wit local farmer. We would like to thank farmer Ralp Foisol for his help in this trial.

We don't have a name for our new team member yet so all suggestions are welcome

21/01/2026

11/01/2026

This weekend saw the team taking part in their annual trauma care requalification assessment. The Coastguard Emergency Responder Casualty Care (CERCC) is a recognised pre-hospital emergency medicine qualification and one that all coastguard officers must pass to remain operational as it is a vital part of the work we do.

Team members had to demonstrate a range of skills to the two assessors including CPR techniques, use of AED, airway management, treating and immobilising fractures, oxygen administration, internal bleeding, pelvic binders and much more. The requalification session concluded with an hour long exercise involving a casualty who had fallen from height and had ended up in a position that made treatment and extrication difficult.

We are pleased to announce that all team members passed all their assessments and have re-qualified as CERCC practitioners.

Remember if you see anyone in difficulty along the coast or at sea call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

08/01/2026

31/12/2025

Howick Coastguard Rescue Team would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

The team has been tasked 54 times this year, alongside our regular weekly training, coastal patrols and various PR and safety events. It has been, as always, a varied and busy year for the team. We also welcomed two new Coastguard Rescue Officers, HWK 04 and HWK 05 to the team, with some more new team members joining us in 2026.

Many of the year's call outs have been multi-agency incidents and during the year we have worked alongside colleagues from Amble Coastguards, Seahouses Coastguard Rescue Team, Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team, Newbiggin Coastguard Rescue Team, Berwick Coastguard rescue team, RNLI Seahouses Lifeboat, Craster Lifeboat Station RNLI, RNLI - Amble Lifeboat Station, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Northumbria Police, National Trust and English Heritage (apologies if we’ve missed anybody out!). Thank you to you all for your support and your commitment to helping others. Sadly not every call out has a good outcome and our thoughts are those who have been affected by these incidents.

The Emergency Services and the Search and Rescue community are formed by hard-working, dedicated teams made up of incredible individuals . Behind those individuals are supportive, understanding partners and families who are used to them disappearing to call-outs at often unsociable and inconvenient times, at all times of the day and night, for unknown lengths of time, and we thank them all for their support and understanding throughout the year.

We hope you enjoy your time along our beautiful Northumberland coastline, but be prepared - check the weather, tide timings, have your mobile charged, and let people know your timings and activity plans.

May we wish a safe and Happy New Year to all our followers and fellow emergency services partners that we have worked with over 2025, and we will see you all in 2026!

Remember, in an emergency at sea or on the coast, or if you think someone may be in difficulty, ALWAYS call the COASTGUARD by dialling 999.

24/11/2025

🚨 RECRUITMENT DEADLINE APPROACHING🚨

COASTGUARD RECRUITMENT IS NOW OPEN!

Looking to do something rewarding?

We currently have a recruitment window open for volunteer on-call Coastguard Rescue Officers at the following Coastguard Stations;

Eyemouth
Holy Island
Seahouses
Howick
Amble
Newbiggin
Blyth
Sunderland
Seaham
Hartlepool
Redcar

To apply click on the link below to complete an application form – selecting Area 05 and then the station you would like to join.

https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/89/apply-to-be-a-volunteer-coastguard-rescue-officer/220

You will need to:

🔹 Live or work reasonably locally to a Coastguard Station
🔹 Be available to attend an induction training courses
🔹 Have availability to attend emergency calls during the day and/or night
🔹 Be 18 years old or above and hold a full UK driving licence
🔹 Be in good health and able to pass a Coastguard medical
🔹 Be a team player and train regularly

No prior experience is needed, full training will be given in disciplines such as water rescue, lost & missing person search, casualty care and other specialist skills depending on the Coastguard Team you join, such as rope rescue or flood rescue. As a volunteer you will not be paid. You can claim a small amount for your time and expenses.

You must be available to complete one of the following Core Skills training courses

23rd – 26th April 2026
7th – 10th May 2026

For further queries please email [email protected]

Recruitment closes at 10am on 1st December 2025 so don’t miss your chance to