RNLI crews from Swanage were called out to a yacht after a man lost part of his finger. 

A yacht west of St Alban's Head issued a Mayday distress call and required immediate assistance from the lifeboats on Saturday, June 11. 

Crews found a man in “considerable pain” after losing part of his finger and severely damaging two more. 

He was given entonox for the pain and the wound was cleaned and dressed. 

An ambulance was waiting for the casualty at the lifeboat station. 

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “Rather than risk a transfer at sea the casualty was left on his boat until they were in the calm waters of Swanage Bay where he could be safely brought aboard the lifeboat, taken ashore then handed to ambulance paramedics when they arrived about 30 minutes later.” 

Bournemouth Echo: Swanage lifeboat crew transferring kit to the yacht with the casualty onboard. Credit: RNLISwanage lifeboat crew transferring kit to the yacht with the casualty onboard. Credit: RNLI

Less than three hours earlier on the same day, the UK Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public who had reported a windsurfer in difficulty to the east of Kimmeridge Bay. 

Swanage's all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and the inshore lifeboat were both deployed to the windsurfer. 

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “In the choppy conditions the ALB was first to arrive on scene and started searching for the windsurfer.  

“They were found to be fishing and didn't need any assistance.  

“They were able to confirm that a windsurfer had been in difficulty earlier but he thought that they had gone ashore further West.” 

Kimmeridge Coastguard confirmed that the casualty was safely ashore.