COASTGUARDS had a busy day yesterday dealing with incidents along the Dorset coast.

At 10.57am a 999 call was received reporting a windsurfer in trouble between Hengistbury Head and Southbourne. He had apparently had problems with his equipment, but was able to swim back to shore and did not need any further help.

At 11.31am a call was received with concern that a walker had not returned. The Coastguard helicopter was sent up and Wyke and Kimmeridge Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to help look for the person, who was later found in Kimmeridge safe and well.

Less than an hour later another 999 call was received from someone taking part in coasteering, who said his friend had got too tired to swim back in to Lulworth Cove.

Coastguard Rescue Officers and the Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat were sent to keep a watch on the man, who was then taken to shore by the lifeboat.

Later in the day, at around 3pm, Swanage Coastguard Rescue Officers were sent to Knoll Beach, Studland, after reports that a distress flare had washed up.

It was found and taken to RNLI HQ in Poole for safe disposal.

At 3.11pm, as reported on the Daily Echo website last night, Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Officers and Weymouth RNLI lifeboat were sent out after a report of a dinghy sailor who was in difficulties, having fallen into the water east of Durdle Door.

He was rescued by a local boat before the lifeboat arrived and he was taken to Dorset County Hospital by ambulance.