A new safety ladder design has been implemented at a popular yacht harbour to improve water rescues.

The Beaulieu River team, led by deputy harbour master Adam Lewis, worked on the new design after assessing past incidents and procedures.

The team concluded that while existing emergency ladders at Buckler's Hard Yacht Harbour met guidelines, modifications could enhance rescue operations.

It comes as a £2 million redevelopment of the boatshed is underway, aiming to attract marine-based businesses to the sought-after south coast marina. The upgrades will offer new waterfront offices, workshop units, and meeting rooms available for rent from spring 2025.

The newly designed emergency ladders now come equipped with a buoyant 'man overboard' sling. This device can be secured around a casualty, providing safety until help arrives or emergency services are notified.

Two of these new emergency ladders have been installed on the visitors' pontoon and at the foot of the gangway leading to the marina.

Mr Lewis said: "If someone falls in the water, the panic which can follow means that both the person in the water and their friends or partners can struggle to locate installed emergency ladders easily.

"So what we wanted to create was a mobile ladder which we could attach anywhere in the marina and is available for anyone to use."