A JOINT operation from emergency services saw a rescue at a popular tourist hotspot.

Two crews from Swanage Lifeboat Station along with the coastguard and an ambulance were called to Durlston Bay after reports of a casualty needing an emergency evacuation late last night (April 1).

A spokesman from Swanage Lifeboat Station said: "At 11.47pm, both lifeboats launched to assist in an emergency.

"The crew were paged just before midnight after being requested to assist paramedics and Swanage coastguards, to evacuate a casualty from Durlston Bay.

"The lifeboats launched and were quickly on the scene to join the coastguards and paramedics, who had been dealing with a medical casualty and formulating an evacuation plan.

"Rather than attempt to carry the casualty up steep and narrow paths to the nearest road, it was decided it would easier to take the casualty by sea back to the boathouse.

"The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) used its powerful searchlights to illuminate the area while the nimble inshore lifeboat (ILB) took a stretcher and extra personnel ashore.

"The casualty was packaged into the stretcher and transferred to the ALB by the ILB, then the short trip back to the boathouse was made at a comfortable speed.

"Back in Swanage, the ALB briefly tied up alongside the council jetty to hand the casualty over to awaiting ambulance crews before re-housing.

"Both boats were ready for further service just after 1am this morning."