HM Coastguard Gorleston

30/05/2026

Please remember to keep a proper watch on your children at the beach. In this picture is Rock Armour. Its not a safe place to play.

If you have an emergency or concern for yours or someone elses safety dial 999 & ask for Coastguard.

28/05/2026

In a nice change from tradition, the May bank holiday weather was terrific and the Gorleston area was busy as everyone was determined to enjoy it. The Gorleston Coastguard Rescue Team was busy too with a variety of incidents over the holiday period, in just the last week we responded to:
#84 Casualty recovery from Gorleston beach. Along with the Gorleston Lifeboat crew, we carried a female casualty off the beach to a waiting ambulance.
#85 We helped to rescue a crew of three from a vessel that had run aground at Rockland St Mary. A big shout out here to the Hemsby Broads Rescue team for an excellent job.
#86 Blue objects seen in the water near the White Swan wreck. Thankfully it transpired they were just crab pots. We would rather be tasked to jobs that turn out to be false alarms than not be tasked to serious incidents that people are unsure about reporting..
#87 Vessel damaged and stuck near the Vauxhall bridge Gt Yarmouth.
#88 Search for a missing person, Pakefield, Lowestoft, thankfully the casualty was found safe and well.
#89 Assisted with the recovery of a casualty from Great Yarmouth beach. As usual, we have to admire the skills of the Air ambulance and our local ambulance crews.
If you see an incident that concerns you or a person in distress on the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

27/05/2026

Inflatables are great for the pool, but they’re not safe for the sea.

Even in light winds, they can quickly drift you out to sea and put you in danger.

If you’re heading to the beach this bank holiday, leave inflatables at home and save them for the pool instead.

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

04/05/2026

19/04/2026

On Saturday morning Gorleston and Lowestoft Coastguard Rescue teams were tasked to attend an incident where a vessel with a family of 4 people and a dog onboard was stuck under the bridge at St Olaves. Norfolk Fire and Rescue also attended and thankfully with the aid of a local marina boat we were able to bring the family safely to the shore. NFRS attempted to pull the boat from under the bridge but a strong wind and a fast rising tide made this impossible. GOCRT then ensured the family were safe and well and stayed on scene to organise the recovery of the vessel when the falling tide allowed. The family were then able to get back on board and continue their holiday.
If you see an incident that concerns you or a person in distress on the coast or our local waterways, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

15/04/2026

Monday afternoon and a shout came in to help recover a dog in the water on Hopton beach. On arrival we found that Otis, a very lively springer spaniel, had found his way onto the rocks, he was now trapped in them and in the water. The RNLI lifeboat was also tasked to attend, but thankfully a combined effort between Gorleston and Lowestoft Coastguard Rescue teams soon had him out and he was reunited with his much relieved owners. We always worry when dogs get into difficulty on the coast, not only for the dogs but also for the owners who may want to climb down a cliff or get into the water to help them. If your pet does get into trouble, do not put yourself in danger, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

04/04/2026

In a coastal emergency, minutes matter. Could you tell someone exactly where you are if you or a loved one needed help?

When you call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, one of the first questions you’ll be asked is: “where are you?”. The moment you provide this information; the teams will dispatch the most appropriate responders. We have world-class systems to help us, but valuable time can be saved if you can give some location details.

There are very simple ways, as well as more advanced options, to help you stay safe and know your location.

• Before you leave: Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

• Safety signs and location: Look for local safety signs depicting beach names and location references. Take a picture of local landmarks such as car park names and buildings.

• Location apps: Know how to use your location apps. Many smartphones now have a Global Positioning System (GPS) installed which pinpoints geographical locations.

• Mobile phone: Make sure your mobile is fully charged, ideally in a waterproof case. It’s also worth taking a power pack so you can recharge your phone, especially if your activities involve heavy battery use.

If you can tell us exactly where you are, rescuers can be sent more quickly. It could save a life.

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

25/03/2026

Incident #41, Sunday 22nd March. We were alerted to suspected ordnance on the beach at Great Yarmouth. The team cordoned the area, gently persuaded a curious seal to move further down the beach and waited for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. On their arrival, the item was identified as a live 50 cal bullet. The bullet was very difficult to see as it was encrusted with rock, shells and mineral deposits. However it still had the potential to harm. This is often the case and it is a reminder that should you see anything suspicious on the beach, please don't touch it, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

18/03/2026

Monday night's training was about developing and practicing casualty assessment and extraction techniques from Broads vessels. Lifting a casualty in a stretcher from a vessel and over water to the safety of a mooring is very challenging. This could be from a roof hatch, over the side, through a window or door or ideally by bringing the vessel stern on to the jetty. It's better to practice this during training than during a live incident when you could have an ill or injured casualty. We would like to thank Bridgecraft boatyard, Acle for the use of one of their boats, we learnt a lot.
If you see an incident that concerns you or a person in difficulty on the coast or our local waterways, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

17/02/2026

Monday night training and we were at an open air pool for 2 hours of water rescue training. As the air temperature was at 3°c and the water at only 4.6°c the conditions were very challenging. It did make for a very realistic two hours of practice and helped us prepare for the type of incidents when our rescue skills will be needed. Our sincere thanks to Burgh Hall for the use of their pool and facilities.
If you see an incident that concerns you, or persons in distress on the coast or local waterways, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.