A continuation of the search near Cwmbran, for Gwent Police

Teams from SARA were deployed to search the river in Tewkesbury, supporting Gloucestershire Constabulary.  Very sadly, during the afternoon and working with the Police, one of the SARA teams helped to find and recover the body of a young man. This was the fifth day on which SARA teams had been deployed to search for the man, who was known to have entered the River Avon in Tewkesbury on the evening of Friday 19 December.  

Teams and boats from SARA Stations at Beachley, Cotswolds, Sharpness and Wyre Forest, as well as Tewkesbury, have all been involved at various times.  We are also very grateful for support from our colleagues at Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue on 24 December.

The search was complicated by the conditions of the river, with its level changing hugely over the past few days.  

The thoughts of all our members are with the friends and family of the man concerned at this most difficult time.

Around 7pm, we were called out to the Cheltenham area to support Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search for a vulnerable missing person. Team members from our stations at Cotswolds, Tewkesbury and Beachley attended, along with colleagues from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group.  Thankfully the missing person was located safe by one of our search parties, and handed over to the care of the police and ambulance services.  The team was stood down before midnight, before Storm Bram properly arrived.

During the morning, the Sharpness Lifeboat crew were requested by HM Coastguard to search for a dog that had gone missing following entering the water at Lydney Harbour. Coordinated by HM Coastguard, our lifeboat conducted a thorough search of the river downstream of Lydney. Sadly, after an extensive period, the dog could not be found and the search was stood down by the coastguard.

The thoughts of the Sharpness Crew are with the dogs owner at this incredibly sad and distressing time.

Our land search teams were called out around 11am, to support Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search for a high risk missing person in the Cheltenham area.  SARA members from our stations at Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds responded.Thankfully the person was located safe by fire service colleagues whilst our crews were en route to scene, and is now receiving the appropriate care.

We were back on flood duty this evening, though thankfully only on standby.  At their request we deployed 3 flood teams to Monmouth Fire Station and 2 teams to Whitchurch, Cardiff, to support South Wales Fire and Rescue Service if there was any significant flooding.None of the various rivers rose as much as had been feared, so the teams were all stood down by 10pm.  Better safe than sorry.

The SARA Beachley lifeboats were called out late in the evening, to a tug which had lost power entering the River Wye.  SARA Lifeboats 1 and 3 worked together to recover the boat safely to the Beachley slip