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.

• Sharpness 21-05-25

  At around noon, the SARA Sharpness Lifeboat crew received an immediate tasking to assist a sailing boat on passage to Sharpness Docks, anxious that they may not be able to enter the docks successfully.

  SARA Lifeboat 2 launched, located and escorted the vessel to Sharpness docks before being stood down.

  21st May 2025

  21st May 2025

• River Severn Aust 14-05-25

  The SARA Beachley Lifeboats were called out at 1524.

  There had been a report of a person in the water off Aust Rock. Later information put the location further downstream, closer to the Prince of Wales M4 Bridge, about 1km out from the English shore. SARA Lifeboat 3 launched and attended the scene.

  The person was in fact a kayaker who had taken the opportunity to explore the exposed rocks and sand at low water. After confirming he was not at risk, SARA 3 returned to Beachley and we were stood down at 1620.

  A false alarm with good intentions.

  14th May 2025

  14th May 2025

• River Severn Aust 14-05-25

  We were called out by. the Coastguard at 1530, to a report of a man in the water off Aust Rock. This was then updated to him being downstream closer to the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge (Second Severn Crossing), about 1km out from the English shore.

  SARA Lifeboat 3 was launched from SARA Beachley and attended the scene. With low tide approaching we also launched our smaller boat Rescue 5, and SARA Lifeboat 14 from Newport was also requested and on its way by road.

  However, iIt transpired that the male was a kayaker who had taken the opportunity at low water to explore the exposed rocks/sand. Having ascertained that the individual was not at risk, the. boats recovered to Beachley and we were stood down at 1620.

  A false alarm with good intentions.

  14th May 2025

  14th May 2025

• River Severn Elmore 13-05-25

  At 1046, we were requested by Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service after reports of a dog in the River Severn near Elmore.

  Our Gloucester-based assets were quickly deployed to assist. Thankfully, by the time our crews arrived, the dog had made it safely back to shore and was reunited with its owner.

  13th May 2025

  13th May 2025

• River Severn English Stones 12-05-25

  Around 1630 the SARA Beachley lifeboat crew were tasked by the Coastguard for the second time that day. A yacht had reported being in difficulties near the M4 Second Severn Crossing, and was aground on the English Stones.

  SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched, and en route spotted a drifting yellow kayak. They checked no one was with it, and the Coastguard explained that it may belong to the stranded boat. So the lifeboat recovered the kayak and went directly to the yacht – now floating and anchored.

  It was decided to get the yacht to the safety of nearby St Pierre Pill, but with the lack of water depth the smaller SARA Lifeboat 3 was launched as there not enough depth for SARA 1 in the Pill.

  We put a senior crew member on the yacht, the kayak on SARA 3, and SARA 3 shadowed the yacht in to the Pill. The lifeboats could then recover, at about 1900.

  12th May 2025

  12th May 2025

• River Wye Chepstow 12-05-25

  Around 1050 we were contacted by Gwent Police regarding an individual who might have entered the water from M48 Bridge earlier in the day. Following consultation with the Police and Coastguard, we launched SARA Lifeboat 3 for a search in the River Wye. Nothing was found and the individual was later found safe inland.

  12th May 2025

  12th May 2025

• Gloucester 10 & 11-05-25

  The SARA Land Search Team was called out late Saturday evening, to support Gloucestershire Police with a search for a missing lady in the south-east part of Gloucester. With nothing having been found, the team was stood down around 2am.

  We commenced the search again on Sunday morning, with police officers also searching areas of the city. Team members from SARA Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds attended, along with colleagues from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group and Wiltshire Search and Rescue, and SARA Wyre Forest were also en route.
  Thankfully during the afternoon the lady concerned was found safe, and taken to hospital by the police.

  A great result from a good team effort. Many thanks to all who responded, and to the Police for providing the very welcome refreshments.

  11th May 2025

  11th May 2025

• River Severn, Aust 05-05-25

  Just before midnight, the Coastguard Agency paged us to attend following reports of a person stuck in the mud near the old ferry slip near Aust. As the tide was coming in this was a very risky situation. SARA Lifeboat 1 was being launched when we got the good news that the person had managed to self recover and was being looked after by the Ambulance Service.

  5th May 2025

  5th May 2025

• River Severn Beachley 01-01-25

  We were called out at 11.04, to attend a situation with a female on the wrong side of railings on the M48 Bridge.

  Crew members arrived at Beachley station to prepare a boat launch, but were stood down at 11.16 as the police had dealt with the situation.

  1st May 2025

  1st May 2025

• Caldicot 05-04-25

  Shortly before 3pm on Saturday we were called out by Gwent Police to Caldicot, to recover the body of a man who had been reported missing and then sadly found deceased.
  Team members from SARA Beachley and Newport were joined by those from Longtown Mountain Rescue Team. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the man concerned.

  Thanks to all who responded.

  5th Apr 2025

  5th Apr 2025