Swanage and St Albans Head coastguard volunteers were involved in a multi-agency search after a woman was reported missing.

The search had extended to the cliff-line from Anvil Point lighthouse westwards and when a rope was found, but could not be retrieved or easily inspected (because of its position) the assistance of the Swanage Lifeboat was requested.

The lifeboat’s tasking was initially to find, illuminate and inspect the rope in the hope that it could be eliminated from the search and the rope was quickly found.

However, the base of the rope seemed to be attached to something and could not be seen from seaward, so the smaller inshore lifeboat (ILB) was launched.

Once on the scene, the ILB placed two crew onto the rocky base of the cliffs. These two crew were able to make their way to the rope and free it, allowing the coastguards at the top of the cliff to retrieve it. It was not believed to be involved in the missing person search.

Whilst afloat the two lifeboats made a slow inshore search westwards to Seacombe and eastwards to Peveril Point before returning to station.