HM Coastguard Crosby

🔵To Serve, To Rescue, To Save🟡

Tonight, HM Coastguard Crosby had the privilege of recognising the service of Coastguard Rescue Officer Ian Kay as he steps down after seven years of dedicated voluntary service.

In search and rescue, service is often measured not just by the incidents attended, but by the people inspired along the way. During tonight’s presentation, our Station Officer Pete reflected on how Ian’s professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm (pre-coastguard at Marine Fire 1) helped give a young and inexperienced Coastguard Rescue Officer (Pete) the confidence that he had made the right decision to join the search and rescue community.

That is perhaps one of the greatest legacies any Person who puts the community first can leave behind.

Before joining HM Coastguard in 2019, Ian had already enjoyed a distinguished career with Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, including leading Marine Fire One. Many of us first encountered Ian through joint working on the waterfront, where his experience, calm leadership and willingness to share his knowledge left a lasting impression. Some of us are still trying to forget his unforgettable explanation of the recovery position!

To mark Ian’s service from 2019–2026, the team presented him with an engraved Coastguard cutlass. The cutlass is a symbol deeply rooted in Coastguard history, representing duty, service and commitment to protecting those who use our coastline. Today, it remains a fitting way to honour individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to their team and community.

Throughout his time with HM Coastguard Crosby, Ian has supported countless search and rescue operations, strengthened partnerships across the waterfront and helped shape the safe delivery of major events across Liverpool’s coastline.

More importantly, he has been a mentor, colleague and friend to many who have served alongside him.

Ian, thank you for your dedication, professionalism and unwavering commitment to public service. Your influence on this team will be felt long after your final callout.

Fair winds and following seas.

🚨Task No: 1️⃣2️⃣8️⃣🚨

Yesterday Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked to reports of a possible person in the water on the River Mersey near Pickerings Pasture.

Working alongside our Area Commander, HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter 336, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue service boat volunteers quickly deployed to conduct a coordinated search of the shoreline and river.

As the tide continued to ebb, our search team carried out a detailed search from Within Way to Hale Cliffs, navigating challenging terrain including mud, overhangs and inaccessible sections of shoreline.

Throughout the operation, aerial and shoreline searches were conducted, contingency plans were developed for any potential recovery, and all available information was continually assessed as the search area evolved with the changing tide.

After several hours of searching by land and air, no person was located and the search was ultimately suspended.

A big thank you to all agencies involved and a special mention to our Area Commander, who kept team morale high by treating our volunteers to pizza during the operation. Small gestures like this go a long way during lengthy searches and are greatly appreciated by our teams.

🔵🚙Training for the terrain 🚗 🟡

The Sefton coastline presents a unique set of challenges for Coastguard Rescue Officers. From expansive beaches and soft sand to sand dunes, remote access tracks and tidal areas, reaching those in need often requires more than just a standard vehicle.

That’s why our team regularly undertakes specialist 4x4 training, ensuring we can safely access difficult terrain while responding to incidents along the coast.

Our training includes:

• 2W (Two-Wheel Drive) – Used for normal road driving and firm surfaces when travelling to and from incidents.

• 4W (Four-Wheel Drive High Range) – Provides improved traction on loose surfaces such as beach access tracks, wet grass and compacted sand.

• 4WL (Four-Wheel Drive Low Range) – Offers maximum control and torque at low speeds, allowing safe progress through soft sand, steep dune access routes, uneven ground and other challenging coastal terrain.

Whether responding to stranded casualties, supporting searches, assisting partner emergency services or helping those cut off by the tide, having the right skills and understanding of our vehicles helps us reach people safely and effectively.

Training isn’t just about driving vehicles – it’s about ensuring we’re prepared for the unique environment of the Sefton coastline and ready to respond when the public needs us most.

⛴️ Sunday Dock Tour ⛴️

Today our team and Wirral Coastguard team attended the Port of Liverpool for a tour of the docks and surrounding areas, this was kindly facilitated by the Port of Liverpool police.

Coastguard teams on many occasions need to access the port areas when tasked to incidents. Much of the port provides a good vantage point of the River Mersey which helps our teams on operational taskings.

This was a great opportunity for our team to develop our knowledge of the area and build our relationships with partner agencies.

A big thank you to Peel ports, the Port of Liverpool police and our deputy station officer Phil for making this visit happen!

🔵The weekend so far…🟡

🚨Task No 1️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ 🚨
Late last night our team was tasked alongside Southport Coastguard Team to set up a helicopter landing site at Joe Stone Playing Field. Coastguard helicopter Rescue 336 had picked up a patient from the Isle of Man with both femurs broken.

The patient was flown to Joe Stone Playing Fields where they were met by our team who assisted in transporting the patient from the helicopter to the waiting ambulance.

🚗 Local Knowledge Patrol 🚙
This morning some of our team undertook a patrol of South Liverpool to check our access points to the River Mersey including Liverpool sailing club, Liverpool airport, Garston docks, Otterspool. These patrols help us to maintain our local knowledge and ensure we can still access areas of our coastline In case of a tasking.

🚨Task No 1️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ 🚨
On our way back to Crosby after our patrol we received a report from Crosby lifeguards that there was a deceased porpoise on Crosby beach. Our team attended and took the relevant details and pictures to be passed on for collation of scientific data.

‼️Did you know?‼️
HM Coastguard had a duty to respond to incidents involving Royal fish.

Fishes Royal (or Royal Fish) are deceased cetaceans and sturgeons that have been stranded on the UK’s shores. They are called Royal Fish because they are a Royal Prerogative and the Crown (or grantee) has the right to claim them.

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Royal Fish include all whales, porpoises, dolphins, and sturgeons. In Scotland, Royal Fish only include whales over 25ft long.

The Crown’s right to claim Royal Fish dates back to the 12th century when a stranded cetacean would have been a valuable commodity. Today, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Fishes Royal Prerogative is administered on behalf of the Crown by HM Coastguard’s Receiver of Wreck.

🚨- Taskings -🚨
🟡🔵 The weekend begins 🟡🔵

Last night our team was tasked alongside Merseyside Fire Service to the Liverpool Albert dock, with two casualties reportedly in the dock by the Tate Museum.

Our team mobilised to rescue the two males, before we arrived a jetski managed to get into the location and recovered the two casualties. Our team were stood down and made themselves ready for any further callouts.

The waterfront at Liverpool Albert Dock is a great place to enjoy the views, but it's important to stay aware around open water.

Earlier this morning we were called upon again, with reports a casualty was missing around the RSPB Marshside area of Southport. We were tasked along with Southport Lifeboat Quads to RV with police, luckily before we arrived we received confirmation the casualty was found safe and sound so we stood down ready to take on Saturday.

⚠️ Safety reminders:

🔵Keep a safe distance from the edge, especially in wet or windy conditions.

🟡Supervise children closely at all times.

🔵Avoid climbing on barriers, railings, or dock structures.

🟡Stay alert and avoid distractions when walking near the water.

🔵Never enter the water unless it is part of an authorised activity.

🟡If someone falls into the water, call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard. Do not enter the water yourself.

📞 If you see someone in danger on the coast call 999 and ask for the Coastguard

Help keep others safe — share this message 💙

🟡Tuesday Afternoon🔵
‼️4 incidents‼️

Yesterday afternoon our team was getting ready to attend station for our weekly training session.

We received a tasking to assist RNLI lifeguards on the beach near Crosby leisure centre for a female who had fallen and had suspected hip/pelvic injuries.

Our team mobilised and assisted the lifeguards with administering casualty care. We utilised our Argo ATV with its stretcher capability to transport the female off the beach to an ambulance where she was taken to hospital.

We wish her a quick recovery!

Whilst some of our team were assisting with the first incident, the rest of the team were tasked to assist with a female in the mud near the coastguard station. The incident was resolved shortly after with the female safe and well.

Once back on station we had started cleaning and repacking kit when our station officer Pete noticed 6 young persons north of our station in the water. With the tide starting to flood and the persons on the most dangerous part of our beach, the decision was made to deploy Coastguard rescue officers to assist them to safety.

Our Argo ATV was deployed with rescue officers in water rescue kit. Also requested was a lifeboat and rescue helicopter.

Rescue officers managed to reach the persons before the tide forced them into the mud plains. All six were escorted through a safe route off the beach.

Shortly after this incident was resolved the tide had started to reach a sand bank near Crosby Leisure centre. With a large number of people on the sandbank there was a significant risk of getting cut off by the tide or stuck in the mud.

Rescue officers deployed onto the sandbank with water rescue equipment and started escorting people to safety before the tide fully cut off the sand bank.

Approximately 100 people were returned to safety and advice given about tidal cut offs and mud hazards at our beach.

Once the tide had come in and people had started to vacate the beach our team went to the Bus Yard for some well earned refreshments!

A big thank you to the RNLI Lifeguards for their work and to the Bus Yard for keeping us refreshed🍔

🟡 Bank Holiday Monday 🔵

Yesterday was another busy day for our team.

The day started out with a patrol of Crosby Beach. Whilst on the beach we were tasked alongside Southport CRT to set up a helicopter landing site (HLS) at Joe Stone playing field for a patient being transferred to hospital from Douglas Complex on the Irish Sea.

Whilst waiting for the helicopter to arrive there were reports of two missing children on Formby and Ainsdale beach. Luckily they had been found prior to the team leaving the HLS.

On return back to our station the team were tasked to reports of a missing person at Crosby Beach. After a search our team managed to locate the person and return them back to family safe and well.

‼️Advice‼️

Yesterday, our team was unable to exit the beach near Crosby leisure centre as cars were parked blocking the entrance path to the beach. This meant that our team had to navigate an alternative route off the beach hampering our response time! Please consider where you are parking and whether you may be blocking emergency access to the beach.

Also whilst looking for a missing person our team came across a rubbish fire on the path near the beach. This was caused by a hot disposable barbecue which had been put in the bin causing it to set rubbish on fire. Please make sure any barbecues etc are cold before putting them in the bin.