Portland, Dorset — April 18, 2025
A large-scale emergency operation on Chesil Beach ended in success late tonight after a 26-year-old man, missing for several hours, was found and airlifted to safety.
The alarm was raised just after 5:30 PM, prompting a coordinated search involving Portland Bill Mobile Coastguard, the Weymouth Lifeboat, and Dorset Police. As night fell and conditions along the coast worsened, concerns for the man’s safety grew increasingly urgent.
After several tense hours combing the area, search teams finally located the man around 11:30 PM. Rescue 175, the Coastguard’s helicopter, was swiftly deployed to the scene. In a dramatic and skillfully executed night-time operation, the man was winched from the remote stretch of Chesil Beach and flown to the Chesil car park, where an awaiting land ambulance transferred him to Dorset County Hospital.
Authorities are reminding members of the public to exercise caution when venturing near the coast, particularly as weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly.
Reporter: Jake Brewer
Jake.Brewer@dorsetnews.uk