Ready at a Moment’s Notice

Dedicated volunteer crews across the Severn region, on water and land. We stay on call to save lives, 24/7.

River Wye - Chepstow

July 29, 2025

Lifeboat shout in the early hours - at 00.13. The Coastguard  tasked us to investigate a vessel near the A48 Wye Bridge on the River Wye in Chepstow, following concern expressed by a caller. We were just about to launch SARA  Lifeboat 1 when we were stood down as the vessel and crew were declared safe. SARA 1 and crew were put back to bed!

Ross-on-Wye

July 27, 2025

Search Teams were called out to Ross-on-Wye at around midday. Longtown Mountain Rescue Team requested our support with a search which they, and West Mercia Search & Rescue, were undertaking for West Mercia Police.Team members from our Beachley, Tewkesbury, Upton, Wyre Forest and Cotswolds Stations assembled at Ross Rowing Club. A series of land areas and sections of the River Wye were searched by SARA, the latter both by boat and on foot, whilst the other teams searched different areas. We were once again supported by Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales. Sadly during one of our searches, the body of a man was discovered. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man concerned.Many thanks to all who attended and to Ross Rowing Club for the use of their facilities.

River Usk - Newport

July 26, 2025

At approx 03:30, we were tasked to assist a vessel which had run aground and required assistance. Due to the extremely low tide, we launched our plastic boat which is used for inland waters such as ponds and lakes. We joined RNLI Penarth and South Wales Fire & Rescue Service to bring the incident to a close.

River Usk - Newport

July 25, 2025

SARA Lifeboat 14 was tasked again this afternoon. This time to assist someone stuck in the mud.Thankfully the person was able to self extract prior to our arrival.

River Usk - Newport

July 24, 2025

SARA Lifeboat 14 was tasked to reports of a vessel sinking with unknown occupants. We immediately launched and made way to the vessel’s last know position. Following a brief search, it was confirmed a false alarm with good intent.

River Severn - Beachley

July 23, 2025

Around 1730 the SARA Beachley Lifeboat Crew were called out by the Coastguard to a report of a person in the water in the area of the M48 Severn Bridge. SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched rapidly, with two paramedics from the Ambulance HART Team on board as well as the SARA crew.With the assistance of the Police helicopter, the person was located and rescued onto the lifeboat, and then taken to the slipway. By then the Great Western Air Ambulance had landed at Beachley and RNLI Portishead was also on scene. The person was attended to by a combined SARA, RNLI, Ambulance and Helicopter HEMS team, before being taken to hospital.We try to train with other local emergency services as much as we can, and regularly take HART team members out in our lifeboats. This was an excellent example of all that multi-agency training demonstrating its value on a callout. Many thanks to all who responded.

Wyndcliff, nr Chepstow

July 22, 2025

The SARA Land and Rope Teams were called out to support Gwent Police with a search for a missing man at Wyndcliff in the Wye Valley, just north of Chepstow. Longtown Mountain Rescue Team were committed elsewhere.Team members from our stations at Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds deployed, and we were also supported by members of Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group and Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales. Starting at 1030, the teams searched a large and complex area comprising serious cliffs, sloping overgrown and rocky woodland and open fields. Thankfully, at around 1930 as thoughts were turning to where to search the following day, the missing man was found safe and well a few km away from our search area. A small SARA party, including one of our paramedics, attended until police officers could arrive. A great result. Many thanks to all who attended or supported the search in other ways.

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