Swimmers 'shouting for help' rescued by paddleboarder

Swimmers at a Dorset beauty spot were 'shouting for help' before being rescued by a nearby paddleboarder.

Swimmers off Man O' War Beach started shouting for help sparked an emergency rescue operation on Tuesday, June 11 at 12.30pm.

Coastguard teams from Kimmeridge and Lulworth as well as the Weymouth Lifeboat were sent to the scene.

The coastguard found that, rather than the initially reported three swimmers, it was in fact five people needing help.

All five were found on the beach having been rescued by a nearby paddleboarder.

A spokesperson for Kimmeridge Coastguard said: "We were tasked by Solent Coastguard alongside Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Team to three swimmers shouting for help.

"Once teams arrived on scene we were made aware that there were in fact five casualties, the officer in charge sent a search team down to the beach to locate the casualties with Weymouth Lifeboat also searching the area.

"The casualties were now on the beach having been picked up by a nearby paddle-boarder.

"Coastguard and lifeboat teams checked to make sure everything was all okay with the casualties now they were safely ashore.

"Once all was okay, teams were stood down and returned back to their stations.

"Please check the tide times and weather forecast before entering the water."

A spokesperson for Weymouth Lifeboat said: "Our inshore lifeboat crew launched following reports from a member of the public that four swimmers who were being assisted by a paddleboarder were in difficulty - one swimmer and the paddle boarder were unaccounted for.

"We assisted the coastguard teams.

"However the coastguard teams fairly quickly established that no one was unaccounted for and the volunteer crew were stood down."