HM Coastguard Folkestone

13/03/2026

Nine years ago tonight Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, Winchman Ciarán Smith and Winch Operator Paul Ormsby set out on task on board Rescue 116, and were tragically lost in the early hours of the 14th March.
Always remembered in our Coastguard family, never to be forgotten.

06/03/2026

193 souls were lost on the Herald of Free Enterprise on this night, 39 years ago, Friday 6th March 1987, shortly after leaving the port of Zebrugge.
We remember them today, as always, and think of their families, their friends, the survivors and the rescuers.
~ Rest in Peace ~

01/03/2026

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 to our Welsh friends and colleagues.

February was a routine month with 5 taskings, mainly investigations of objects seen on beaches or at sea with a search and concern for safety in the water as well.

In an emergency on the coast - 📞9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard

14/02/2026

🌹 Roses are red 🌹
💙 Coastguards are blue 💙
😳 In distress on the coast? 😳
📟 We'll come rescue you! 📟

Whatever you're doing for Valentine's Day - have fun and stay safe

01/01/2026

Happy New Year to all our wonderful flank teams across Area 8, all the other services we work with, our supporters and most importantly our families who enable us to go out and do what we do - here's to an amazing 2026 💫

01/01/2026

Happy New Year to all our wonderful flank teams across Area 8, all the other services we work with, our supporters and most importantly our families who enable us to go out and do what we do - here's to an amazing 2026 💫

23/12/2025

23/12/2025

📟Tasking 0627hrs Tues 231225

Tasked to a large clump of rope wrapped round a marker pole off Princes Parade to see if we could remove it to prevent a hazard to swimmers, wildlife and other water users.

On arrival we were able to access it from the concrete plinth, cut it free from the pole and drag it up the beach.

By happy and perfect coincidence a Folkestone & Hythe District Council refuse truck had not long passed by so we chased him down and he very kindly agreed to come back to our location and take it for disposal - thank you so much - that made this a very slick job!

For emergencies on the coast 📞9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the Coastguard

10/11/2025

📟 Tasking 071125 - tasked to investigate a buoy washed up along Princes Parade.
We dragged it out of the surf and rolled it up the beach for collection once an owner is established.
Last time we did this our video got 2.5 million views… so should this buoy be renamed the ‘4 Divas’?

03/08/2025

📟 ~ July round up ~ 📟

A pretty busy month with 33 taskings in July and a brilliant exercise and training day with the Port of Dover and their tugs.

Our taskings included:

👓 10 searches for lost or missing people
🌊 6 taskings to persons in the water
🛥 1 vessel possibly aground
🚑 4 casualty evacuations
🚙 2 Civil Contingency assistance taskings
‼️ 5 accident prevention incidents (4 of which were to tombstoners)
🔍 4 investigations of objects on the shore
🪣 1 pollution investigation

We’ve also conducted several training sessions, focusing in particular this month on water rescue and local knowledge & access and a search and casualty care exercise with our Senior Coastal Operations Officers plus entering the sandcastle competition (did we mention we didn't win?)

We’re here to respond at any time, every day of the year – in an emergency on the coast 📞9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the coastguard

13/07/2025

📟 June round up 📟

Bit delayed after a busy start to July, we had 23 taskings in June and we were honoured to be runners up in the Kent Coast Volunteering awards and to meet so many amazing volunteers at awards evening in Hawkinge.

Our taskings included

⛵️ 3 involving vessels
🌊 2 taskings to persons in the water
🩺 4 casualty care taskings
🔎 7 searches for lost or missing people
🚗 Provided assistance at 2 road traffic collisions
❗️ 2 accident prevention incidents and
🔭 3 investigations

We’ve also conducted several training sessions, focusing this month on rope rescue and particularly vertical rescue.

We’re here to respond at any time, every day of the year – in an emergency on the coast 📞9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ and ask for the coastguard


~ To search ~ to rescue ~ to save ~

06/07/2025

So we didn’t win the Folkestone sandcastle competition with our rather simple cliff but we did add a bit of fun with a miniature dog rescue ….
There were some stunning sculptures and very worthy winners - we’ll up our game for next year!