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.

• Sudeley 28-05-22

  The SARA Land Search Teams were called out around 9.30pm, to assist Gloucestershire Police with a search for a high risk missing person in the Sudeley area, near Cheltenham.
  Team members from the SARA stations at Tewkesbury, Cotswolds, Beachley and Wyre Forest were all en route to the RV, along with colleagues from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group, when the missing person was located safe and well by the Police and we were stood down accordingly.

  28th May 2022

  28th May 2022

• Beachley (M48 Bridge) 19-05-22

  Just before midnight on Thurs 19 May police asked for our assistance as they were dealing with a person in danger on the old Severn Bridge.
  Our lifeboat crew prepared SARA1 for a covert launch without lights to avoid causing any concern, and stood by on the slipway. Police were able to take the person into protective custody and the crew stood down just before 1am

  19th May 2022

  19th May 2022

• Harborne (SW Birmingham) 19-05-22

  Just before 5pm , we were contacted by West Midlands Police to assist with a missing person investigation in the Harborne area of Birmingham. Crew from SARA Wyre Forest and Tewkesbury were deployed and made their way to the area.

  Shortly after crews had deployed into their search areas, the missing gentleman was safely located. Crews then returned to their stations and, being a Thursday, took part in their weekly training session.

  19th May 2022

  19th May 2022

• Chippenham 13-05-22

  Around 5pm we were asked to support Wiltshire Search and Rescue with a search near Chippenham, and deployed a water search team from SARA Sharpness and a land team from SARA Tewkesbury. The water team searched part of the River Avon utilising both a rescue boat and raft. With our search areas complete and with nothing found, we were then stood down.

  It was great to hear that the missing person was found safe and well outside of our search areas, shortly after we were stood down.

  13th May 2022

  13th May 2022

• Rogiet 08-05-22

  SARA Teams from Beachley and Newport were called out mid-afternoon to assist Gwent Police with an operation near Severn Tunnel Junction Station. Further details to follow.

  8th May 2022

  8th May 2022

• Cirencester 30-04 to 01-05-22

  SARA teams were deployed on an extensive search operation over two days. Starting with a request at around 2am on Saturday 30 April, we supported Gloucestershire Police with a search for a high risk missing man near Cirencester.

  SARA Land Search Teams from our stations at Beachley, Wyre Forest, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds were deployed, along with colleagues from Wiltshire Search and Rescue, Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group and a water search team from SARA Sharpness. We were also supported by search dogs from Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales and Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire.

  The search yesterday was suspended at around 7pm and re-started on Sunday morning (1 May). In agreement with the police all assets were stood down around 3pm, with nothing having been found.

  We were delighted that the police confirmed on 4 May that the missing man had been found safe and well, outside Gloucestershire

  1st May 2022

  1st May 2022

• Sellers Bridge 23-04-22

  At 2214, the Sharpness and Gloucester crew received an immediate tasking to assist Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service with an incident in the vicinity of Sellers Bridge on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal.

  As crew arrived on scene and prepared the boat for launch, a stand down message was received with the incident having been resolved.
  All assets were back on station and ready for the next tasking by 2320hrs.

  23rd Apr 2022

  23rd Apr 2022

• Newport 23-04-22

  The SARA Newport crew were tasked shortly after 1930 to assist South Wales Fire and Rescue Service with an ongoing incident close to Newport city centre. With low water, SARA lifeboat 14 ‘The Maureen Easton’ made way and joined colleagues from HM Coastguard Chepstow.

  The person reported safe and SARA 14 stood down shortly after arriving on scene.

  23rd Apr 2022

  23rd Apr 2022

• Birmingham 21-04-22

  Just after midday, we were contacted by West Midlands Police to assist with a missing person search in Birmingham. Crews from SARA Wyre Forest and Tewkesbury quickly deployed to scene and searched the area requested by the Police.

  With nothing found, crew stood down and returned to station just in time for our weekly training session.

  Thank you to Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team who were on standby to assist if required.

  21st Apr 2022

  21st Apr 2022

• Edgehills, Forest of Dean 15/16-04-22

  We were called out shortly before 11pm on Good Friday by Gloucestershire Police; asked to provide assistance with a search for a potentially vulnerable missing person in the Edgehills area of the Forest of Dean.
  Members of SARA Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds Stations, and a dog team from Serve On K9 SAR, worked with the police and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service to search areas of woodland and water through the night. This was the first operational search we have run from our newly converted Incident Support Unit trailer, which is based at our Tewkesbury Station. The search was also supported by a helicopter from the National Police Air Service and a police drone team.

  With nothing found, the search was suspended shortly after 3am on the Saturday, pending further information. The Police subsequently confirmed that the individuals connected to the incident are all safe and well

  16th Apr 2022

  16th Apr 2022