Incidents

We are tasked by the emergency services, including HM Coastguaard, Fire & Rescue, Police and the Ambulance Services. Our teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Below are the callouts that we have attended.

• Wyndcliff 28-10-23

  We were called out by South Wales Fire Service shortly after 1730, to reports of an injured lady on 365 Steps – at Wyndcliff close to Chepstow – with a suspected C-Spine injury. A rope team was requested.

  Our first local team member was on scene quickly, joining multiple teams from the Fire and Ambulance Services. Further team members from Beachley and Tewkesbury Stations were en route. Before long it became apparent that the lady was able to walk and that our assistance was no longer required, so team was stood down and members could go out their Halloween parties after all.

  28th Oct 2023

  28th Oct 2023

• River Severn M48 Bridge 27-10-23

  Shortly before 11.00 the Coastguard paged and asked us to investigate an object that had been reported floating upstream of the M48 bridge by a member of the public. We launched SARA Lifeboat 3, and quickly found an upturned dinghy.

  After checks for potential occupants we recovered the dinghy to Beachley and handed it to HM Coastguard Chepstow.

  27th Oct 2023

  27th Oct 2023

• Shorncliff (Lower Wye Valley) 22-10-23

  We were called out to to assist a climber with an injured lower leg at Shorncliff in the Lower Wye Valley. One of our casualty carers was already in the area, and got to the climbing party within 12 minutes. Our team doctor arrived shortly afterwards, along with other SARA team members, and a member of the neighbouring Longtown Mountain Rescue Team.

  After the casualty was given first aid, our team was able to extricate him along one of the climbers’ paths to the forest track, and from there to the roadhead.
  With his injury splinted and bandaged, in the interests of expediency his climbing companions then transported him onwards to hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery.

  22nd Oct 2023

  22nd Oct 2023

• Worcester 21-10-23

  With the River Severn flooding today we deployed a Flood Rescue Team in support of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service. The team, comprising SRT-trained members of SARA Tewkesbury and Wyre Forest Stations, had a busy day in a dynamic flood environment.

  They were called out this morning to an Immediate tasking in Tenbury. This task was resolved whilst the team was en route, following which they were re-directed to Kidderminster, and for a period were stood by there in case of specific issues arising in that area.

  Then during the afternoon they were re-located to Worcester, parts of which had flooded. At Worcester the team was tasked with a number of welfare checks on flooded residents, some with the fire service and some with just SARA.

  Our team is now stood down (in time to catch some of the rugby!) but we are on standby for further activity on Sunday and Monday as the water from Storm Babet makes it’s way downstream.
  Many thanks to all involved, so far…

  21st Oct 2023

  21st Oct 2023

• Newport 19-10-23

  SARA Newport crew were called out during the early hours of this morning to assist Gwent Police with an incident on the river Usk at Newport.

  Due to the ebbing tide and low water, we deployed our SwiftWater Rescue Team directly to scene and requested our low water capable boat to prepare for an immediate launch. Thankfully the incident was resolved by officers and SARA assets stood down shortly before 02:30

  19th Oct 2023

  19th Oct 2023

• Gloucester 16-10-23

  The SARA Sharpness and Gloucester crews received a tasking by Gloucestershire Constabulary to assist with a search for a high risk missing person in the vicinity of Alney Island in Gloucester.

  Working alongside Gloucestershire fire and rescue service, we deployed several teams to assist with the search, covering both the River Severn, the Gloucester and Sharpness canal as well as Gloucester Docks in the city centre. With nothing found, our teams were stood down at 1900hrs.

  The missing person was later located and is receiving the appropriate support.

  16th Oct 2023

  16th Oct 2023

• Wintours Leap, Chepstow 14-10-23

  Callout to a fallen climber near Wintours Leap this afternoon, after his friends had sensibly called for help as he was unable to walk.

  The SARA rope and land teams worked with ambulance medics from Lydney, the SWAST HART team and the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and a member of Longtown Mountain Rescue Team who was in the area.

  The casualty was taken along the long path to Lancaut Farm using our stretcher and wheel – which was very handy! – where the road ambulance was waiting. We wish him a speedy recovery.
  Many thanks to all who turned out.

  14th Oct 2023

  14th Oct 2023

• Llandogo 11-10-23

  Shortly after midnight Longtown Mountain Rescue Team asked for support for a missing person search at Llandogo in the Wye Valley; that person was located safe before SARA team deployed.

  11th Oct 2023

  11th Oct 2023

• Gloucester 10-10-23

  Around 9.30pm we were contacted for the second time today by Gloucestershire Police, this time about a missing lady near Gloucester.

  Our land search teams made their way to the at Quedgeley, whilst Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service conducted some initial searching; then the police were able to locate the missing lady some distance away so we were stood down.

  10th Oct 2023

  10th Oct 2023

• Cheltenham 10-10-23

  Just before 10am we were contacted by Gloucestershire Constabulary concerned for a missing teenager near Cheltenham. They were located safe and well whilst we were discussing search plans with the Police.

  10th Oct 2023

  10th Oct 2023