Busy year for Hunstanton Coastguard outlined by statistics as dog and man go missing this week

It proved to be one of the busiest years on record for a coastal rescue team in 2020.

Figures from Hunstanton’s HM Coastguard Rescue Team show they were called to 133 incidents over the course of the year.

This was in addition to 54 requests from other agencies for mutual aid which takes the annual total up to 187.

A breakdown of these incidents shows the most common call out was to people being cut off by the tide with 31 instances of this in 2020.

The second highest was someone being lost or reported missing with 27 incidents falling under this category.

There were also 12 instances of people getting into difficulty in the water, 16 casualty care incidents and three vehicles being stuck.

And there were five kite, windsurfer and kayaker call-outs for the rescue team as well throughout 2020.

Heading into 2021, the team have already attended multiple incidents including reports of a missing man on New Year’s Day.

Hunstanton Coastguard Rescue Team received a call at 5.45pm to search for a missing 82-year-old man in Heacham.

A statement by the service said: “Once on scene we met with police and family members. As a search plan was being created, news came through that he had been found but needed possible medical assistance.

“We relocated to the casualty, and gave medical assistance until paramedics arrived.

“Once paramedics were happy the casualty was released to go home. Also tasked to assist were HM Coastguard Sutton Bridge and Hunstanton RNLI.”

Then on January 2, the rescue team was called shortly before 3pm due to a missing dog, which had possibly been stuck in mud according to the owner.

Once on scene, the crews found no sign of the dog after the owner had lost sight of it.

HM Coastguard Sutton Bridge was then tasked to assist with the search along with Hunstanton RNLI Hovercraft.

The search was sadly called off after “an extensive search of the area”, coupled with an incoming tide and the loss of light.

The service urged owners to be vigilant when walking their dogs off the lead following the search.