COASTGUARDS had one of their busiest weekends of the year as sizzling temperatures brought thousands to the beaches and out on the water.

Portland Coastguard controllers compared it to a high-season weekend as rescuers dealt with missing children, injured swimmers, broken-down boats and people who were lost.

Sea temperatures at Weymouth were a balmy 18C.

The search and rescue helicopter and Weymouth’s two lifeboats worked together on Saturday afternoon to look for a missing swimmer off Greenhill. They were helped by other craft out on the water.

Wyke Coastguards patrolled the shoreline. The search was called off when the swimmer, who goes out swimming regularly, returned to his car safe and well. It was one of more than 30 incidents handled by Portland Coastguard between Friday and yesterday afternoon.

Because RNLI Lifeguards had completed their season they had recovered buoys from the water which mark zones for boating and swimming.

A coastguard spokesman said: “We got a few calls from people worried that some speedboats and jet-skis were coming close to the shore. It’s because the buoys weren’t in place to warn them.”

Other emergencies included the helicopter being sent to a field near Tolpuddle after a woman was thrown from her horse. She was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital.

Two drift divers looking for scallops sparked concern when they didn’t surface to the boat Que Sera when expected near Lulworth. They turned up safe as the helicopter was getting ready to go to their aid.

Three people were rescued by a lifeboat after their boat began sinking off Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage. The Hot Lemon was towed to Poole.

A man in his 60s was airlifted to safety by the helicopter after making an emergency call to say he was lost near Ringstead.

A coastguard spokesman said: “He did not require medical assistance.”

Weymouth Lifeboat helped a boat which broke down in the Portland tidal race. Dive boat Skin Deeper offered assistance. Coastguard teams helped to reunite at least two missing children on Weymouth Esplanade with their families.

They also helped a girl stung by a weaver fish.

Coastguards warned mariners after a large metal drum was reported floating off Anvil Point, near Swanage.

Controllers were also told that two empty drums had been fished out of Portland Harbour by the crew of the yacht Fleur de Lys and taken ashore for disposal.

Rescuers received a report of a man floating in the water near the Pier Bandstand in Weymouth on Saturday night – but teams couldn’t find anything.