SARA Lifeboat 14 launched upon request of HMCG to search the sea wall along Peterstone Shoreline for a potential missing person.  

SARA 14 undertook various searches until stood down following confirmation that the missing person was located safe on land.

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We were called out about 5.45pm, to support the Fire and Ambulance Services with the evacuation of a casualty close to the River Wye, below the steep ground at Woodcroft.  One of a group of teenagers had painfully dislocated their shoulder, making it impossible for him to climb back up.

Fire Services from both England and Wales, and Ambulance HART, attended and they requested our assistance.  Working with our team doctor and an RRMT, a team from SARA Beachley made his condition much more bearable.  Evacuation back up the hill in a stretcher was considered, but the simplest solution was to transfer him to a lifeboat and move him by river – something we practise quite often.  SARA and Fire worked together to get the casualty down to the river’s edge, and then the SARA lifeboat and land team worked together to move him by stretcher across the mud onto SARA Lifeboat 3.

SARA 3 then transported him down to Chepstow, where they could make use of the newly re-installed Chepstow Boat Club pontoon.  He was landed there, and transferred to a waiting road ambulance.

This was a great example of multi-agency working, with various SARA disciplines working together.

#JESIP

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At 0420 hrs, we received an immediate request for support to assist with searches following reports of a person having entered the water at Gloucester Docks.

Working closely with boat teams from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, crew from SARA Sharpness completed thorough searches of the area, and with nothing found, were stood down at 0630 hrs.

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We were called by Gloucestershire Constabulary just after 8am, to assist with some further searches for a person missing in the Staverton area.  Land and water search team members from SARA stations at Sharpness, Upton, Wyre Forest, Tewkesbury, Cotswolds and Beachley all attended, along with colleagues from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group.  

Searches were carried out throughout the day but were suspended in the evening with nothing found.

Update We were sad to learn that a body was found in connection with this search on Monday (4 May). He was found by police outside, though not far from, the areas we had been tasked to search.

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We were called out late on Tuesday evening, to support Gloucestershire Constabulary with the search for a man missing from Cheltenham, last seen in Staverton.  Land search team members from SARA Tewkesbury, Cotswolds and Beachley Stations responded, and searched for several hours in the Staverton area through the night.

The team was stood down in the early hours of Wednesday, with nothing having been found.  

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At 1510 hrs, the SARA Sharpness Lifeboat crew received an immediate tasking from Milford Haven Coastguard following reports of a person cut off by the tide in the River Severn near Broadoak.

SARA Lifeboat 4 was launched from Sharpness and SARA Rescue 18 was launched further upstream making best speed to the area. We also dispatched an additional vehicle and boat by road to standby at Arlingham in case further assets were needed.

As our boats were en route, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 387 from St Athan arrived on scene and determined there were no persons in the area.

With it believed to have been a false alarm with good intent, all crew were stood down and returned to station.

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On Thursday morning (23 April) SARA land search teams were requested by Gloucestershire Constabulary to assist with the search for a vulnerable person missing in the Witcombe area. Teams from SARA Beachley, Cotswolds and Tewkesbury stations were deployed, alongside a search dog team from Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales and colleagues from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group and Wiltshire Search and Rescue.

Searches were conducted of steep wooded hillsides and dense vegetation throughout both Thursday and Friday in the areas around Witcombe, Birdlip and Elkstone, but concluded at the end of Friday with the person still missing.

We are delighted to learn yesterday (Saturday) evening that the missing person had subsequently been found safe and well.

We would like to express a huge thank you to Royal George Hotel, Birdlip, and the Premier Inn at Little Witcombe, for allowing us to park and set up our search control in their grounds.

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