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.

• Sudbrook 01-08-21

  This afternoon around 5pm Welsh Ambulance Service (WAST) asked us to assist their hazardous area response (HART) team, helping to recover an injured child who had fallen from the Welsh Coast Path near Sudbrook – close to the Second Severn Crossing. The recovery involved moving the child on a stretcher from rocks and mud next to the path and along the shoreline before lifting the stretcher up the rocks to safety and a waiting ambulance.

  Chepstow Coastguard were also on scene. We wish the child, who is now recovering in hospital, a speedy recovery.

  1st Aug 2021

  1st Aug 2021

• Tidenham 30 & 31-07-21

  On Friday morning (30 July) we were called out to the Tidenham area of the Forest of Dean to support Gloucestershire Police with a missing person search. Teams formed from members of the SARA Stations at Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds together with colleagues from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group searched until being stood down at 1830.

  The search was resumed the following morning (Sat 31 July), with additional support from SARA Sharpness, Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue and two dogs from SARDA (South Wales). Despite an extensive search, which included a lifeboat search of the Wye on both days, nothing was found and the SARA teams were stood down at 1800.

  The police operation remained ongoing and our thoughts are with the family of the missing man.

  31st Jul 2021

  31st Jul 2021

• Newport 25-07-21

  Around 9am the SARA Newport crew launched to reports of a drifting vessel in the city centre area of the River Usk. She was subsequently safely secured and the SARA boat recovered

  25th Jul 2021

  25th Jul 2021

• Newport 25-07-21

  SARA Newport were called out this morning, just before 9am. A vessel had been seen drifting near George St Bridge, and a concerned member of the public had called 999. SARA Lifeboat 14 was launched as an Immediate callout to investigate. The vessel had beached itself and appeared to be a stores hulk which had come loose upstream. She was refloated, towed to safety and handed over to the Coastguard.

  25th Jul 2021

  25th Jul 2021

• River Wye Wyndcliffe 21-07-21

  The SARA Beachley team was called out at 1430. Two well-prepared kayakers making their way from Brockweir to Chepstow on the outgoing tide had fallen behind schedule this afternoon and one had become injured on rocks, unable to proceed. They were effectively stuck in a remote corner of the Lower Wye below Wyndcliff and had called the Coastguard.

  They were initially located by a SARA SRT team member who had deployed on foot after accusing the riverbank on a private track off the A466. They were given much needed drinking water – the injured kayaker having managed to get back into her craft. SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched, initially to assist the kayakers who were contemplating making their way back upstream since the tide had turned.

  It quickly turned out that the injured kayaker could not continue, so the kayaks and kayakers were loaded onto SARA 1 and transported back to safety at Beachley, from where onward transport could be arranged.
  A hot afternoon to be out in drysuits; well done and thanks to all concerned.

  23rd Jul 2021

  23rd Jul 2021

• River Severn below M4 Crossing 20-07-21

  At 7.20pm SARA Beachley lifeboat crew responded to a situation near the Second Severn crossing. Two jet skis had broken down and needed help.

  Both SARA Lifeboats 1 and 3 went out to their location, between Welsh Grounds and Bedwin sands. The tide was falling and there was only around 1m of water depth, so the lighter SARA 3 crept over the sands and towed both back to SARA 1. One of the jet skis had run out of fuel and the other had a flat battery, so SARA 3 returned to Beachley to collect fuel and a jump start kit.

  The crew were able to restart one jet ski, but the other had to be towed, initially by the larger SARA 1. SARA 3 then took over to allow SARA 1 to return to Beachley before the level of water dropped too low. After an hour tow against the tide, SARA 3 got the second jet ski safely back to Beachley slip at 22.50, no doubt to the relief of both jet skiers.

  20th Jul 2021

  20th Jul 2021

• Frampton-on-Severn 17-07-21

  The SARA Sharpness water search team was called out around midday to support Gloucestershire Police with a search of the canal near Frampton-on-Severn, between Sharpness and Gloucester. Sadly during the search a body was discovered.

  Our thoughts are with the family of the lady concerned.

  17th Jul 2021

  17th Jul 2021

• Cinderford 08-07-21

  Just after 6pm we were tasked by Gloucestershire Police to carry out a land search from Ruspidge Halt, near Cinderford in the Forest of Dean. Just as the teams from Beachley and Tewkesbury were assembling at the rendezvous point, with some still on their way, we were asked to stand down as the missing lady had thankfully been found and was with the police.

  Many thanks to Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales, Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group and the trailing dog and handler from ServeOn Search and Rescue Dogs, who were also en route.

  8th Jul 2021

  8th Jul 2021

• Severn at Slimbridge 23-06-21

  At 1815hrs, we received a page for an immediate launch to assist Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service with a search of the River Severn near Slimbridge.
  Thankfully, a group of crew were already on station at SARA Sharpness when the call came in, completing their RYA First Aid course, and so were on the water within minutes…
  As the lifeboats were en route to the last known location, additional information was received, informing crew that they were searching for a cow believed to be in the river.
  Working alongside the Fire Service and Gloucestershire Police, 3 lifeboats from Sharpness conducted a search of the river.
  With nothing found, and water levels dropping, crew were stood down and all boats were recovered at 2142hrs.

  23rd Jun 2021

  23rd Jun 2021

• Beachley 23-06-21

  This morning at 11.15 Gwent Police asked us for assistance after reports of a person in an unsafe location on the M48 bridge.
  SARA Lifeboat 3 launched and held at Beachley slip to assist if needed. After the person was confirmed safe by police at approx 1300, our lifeboat recovered and made ready for return to service.

  23rd Jun 2021

  23rd Jun 2021