Weather
Officials warn Poole harbour swimmer about safety (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
Officials warn Poole harbour swimmer about safety
7:00am Friday 7th August 2009
AN OVER-enthusiastic swimmer is proving a headache for Portland coastguards.
The middle-aged man regularly swims across the entrance to Poole Harbour, apparently with scant regard for the dozens of boats and other sea vehicles ploughing through the channel each day.
Coastguards have been trying to warn the man about the dangers of his choice of swimming location, but so far to no avail.
On Wednesday morning, the man greeted officials aboard the harbour safety boat with a volley of abuse after they were sent out to reason with him.
Though Portland coastguard called for police back up, the man swam ashore and rode away from the scene on his bike before they could arrive.
While the man is entitled to swim anywhere around the coastline, coastguards are growing increasingly frustrated with his seemingly blasé attitude to sea safety.
A spokesman for Portland coastguards said: “He happily swims across minding his own business and has been doing it for quite some time.
“There is obviously risk involved with the amount of traffic coming in and out of the harbour at any time.
“As short as the entrance is, there is also the danger of waves, strong tides and rips.”
The spokesman said the man had begun to become quite abusive to officials in recent times.
He added: “If the gentleman chooses to swim across the harbour entrance we can’t do anything about it.
“He is quite at liberty to do so but there are far better places to swim.
“We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but would just urge people to bear in mind their own safety and that of others.”
More Poole stories
- Third time lucky at Winter Paralympic Games for Dorset's Russell Docker?
- Bid to save Poole nurseries from closure
- Port jobs set to go in wake of Barfleur loss
- Popular publican dies in Portuguese car collision
- Volunteers take part in Poole Lions Club Swimarathon to help good causes
- Dorset students trapped in snow-bound USA
- Charity boss denies funding cuts will affect Bournemouth and Poole drug and alcohol service
- Poole High Street traders hit by road closure
- Bournemouth's Yellow Buses could be owned by French transport group
- Starlings swarm over Poole
Your Say YourEcho
ferret38, bournemouth says...
7:35am Fri 7 Aug 09
weevie, Bournemouth says...
8:23am Fri 7 Aug 09
ry8000, Bournemouth says...
8:28am Fri 7 Aug 09
cantique, bournemouth says...
9:12am Fri 7 Aug 09
MJD, HAMWORTHY says...
9:13am Fri 7 Aug 09
godzillareturns, poole says...
9:59am Fri 7 Aug 09
MJD wrote:Exactly in the 50's when we were young it was quieter, I dont begrudge this man his man his swim but if he causes an accident he will never forgive hiself.
This is nothing new back in the 1950s we used to swim from sandbanks to lovell's cafe and back all to save paying Harvey ferry fare so we could have a ice lolly. Mind you i would not want to do it today due to vastly increased number of vessels useing the entrance.
thesyrup1, Bournemouth says...
10:42am Fri 7 Aug 09
godzillareturns wrote:The Coastguard didn't "rescue" him, then tried to explain to him about the dangers of swimming acroos this gad. That's their job. They shouldn't have to take a mouthful of abuse for doing it. They are not "do gooders" sticking their nose in, they are dedicated men and women who have the safety of the public at heart. If you read the report propery, they state that the man is entitled to swim where he likes, they are just concerned about his safety.
This man is a danger to others by the sound of it, if the coastguards have gone to the trouble to rescue him why should they put up with abuse. I would say let him drown but he will probably cause an accident and some other poor person will be hurt.
Julie G, Christchurch says...
11:00am Fri 7 Aug 09
GB916, christchurch says...
11:12am Fri 7 Aug 09
Julie G wrote:I totally agree,its up to him where he swims,but if he gets badly injured after being hit by a boat i would expect him not to claim any compensation,he has been warned by the coastguard about the dangers,so it willbe his fault if he gets injured.All respect to the coastguards they are doing a great job,and how dare some people call them jobsworth,im dam sure you would not think that if you needed rescuing from the water.
Let him get on with it. If he is involved in an accident you cant say he wasnt warned. I personally think it is selfish of him to act this way - his family would be devestated if anything happened to him.
All i would like to add is this,i no longer find it surprising when young people disobey safety advice or break the law,the read stories like this about older people who should no better ignoring advice etc so why should they,the phrase lead by example comes to mind.
godzillareturns, poole says...
12:44pm Fri 7 Aug 09
thesyrup1 wrote:pardon me for reading without glasses either way the coastguard should as you say not have to put up with and yes it is their job to rescue idiots who do not heed their warnings, as you so rightly pointed out they are a dedicated service and (i promise i will read all the report correctly next time)
godzillareturns wrote: This man is a danger to others by the sound of it, if the coastguards have gone to the trouble to rescue him why should they put up with abuse. I would say let him drown but he will probably cause an accident and some other poor person will be hurt.The Coastguard didn't "rescue" him, then tried to explain to him about the dangers of swimming acroos this gad. That's their job. They shouldn't have to take a mouthful of abuse for doing it. They are not "do gooders" sticking their nose in, they are dedicated men and women who have the safety of the public at heart. If you read the report propery, they state that the man is entitled to swim where he likes, they are just concerned about his safety.
Chris..., says...
3:22pm Fri 7 Aug 09
Apt security word for him: free-boat
Lord Spring, says...
3:52pm Fri 7 Aug 09
djd, bournemouth says...
4:33pm Fri 7 Aug 09
Let him get on with it. I just hope he doesn't expect those who he so readily abuses to come to his rescue.
samsmith, Dorset says...
5:10pm Fri 7 Aug 09
hismac, Poole says...
5:40pm Fri 7 Aug 09
KLH, bournemouth says...
5:58pm Fri 7 Aug 09
Let him carry on, and if he drowns, or gets injured, tough, but if he causes an accident which hurts or kills others, then sue his trunks off!!
grimreaper, Ensbury Park says...
6:00pm Fri 7 Aug 09
1 guy swimming the Haven makes NEWS ?
20,000 foreign students wandering and cycling the roads of Bournemouth and Poole
Don't count ??
paperreader, poole says...
8:22pm Fri 7 Aug 09
rook, wimborne says...
9:24am Sat 8 Aug 09
It will be the same 'do-gooder' coastguards and boat-owners who have to rescue him when he's hit.
It is very difficult to spot a person if the water is the slightest bit choppy, particularly in something like a RIB which is very low in the water. The fish will be in for a treat if the SBS boats were to hit him.
BIGTONE, POOLE says...
12:19pm Sat 8 Aug 09
It his choice then.
kevvo's daughter, says...
7:49pm Sat 8 Aug 09
BUSY: Watercraft at the busy entrance to Poole Harbour. Picture: Richard Crease with thanks to Bournemouth Helicopters.
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
godzillareturns, poole says...
7:34am Fri 7 Aug 09