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.

• Shorncliff, Tintern 30-05-21

  On Sunday afternoon at 15.25 (after many of the crew had spent the morning supporting the Wild Wye SwimRun) we were asked to help South West Ambulance Service (SWAST) extract an injured person who had fallen near Devil’s Pulpit.
  Our land team quickly responded and assembled in a remote forest area below Devil’s Pulpit to assist SWAST carry the injured person on a stretcher down to a forest track. This was across steep wooded slopes with moss covered loose rock.
  SARA training and team work ensured we were able to carry out a swift and safe recovery before transferring the injured person to an ambulance, and we were stood down at 17.10.

  30th May 2021

  30th May 2021

• Ombersley 22 to 24-05-21

  The Team from SARA Wyre Forest Station were out on Saturday night (22 May) and all day Sunday (23 May) to assist West Mercia Police with a missing person search near Ombersley. Alongside colleagues from West Mercia Search & Rescue and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, a variety of different search assets were deployed.
  The crews were just beginning to assemble at the RV on Monday 24 May, along with members of SARA Tewkesbury, when the missing lady was found safe and well.

  24th May 2021

  24th May 2021

• Stourbridge 21-05-21

  On Friday 21 May, the crew of Wyre Forest Station were tasked by West Midlands Police to assist with an ongoing missing person investigation in the Stourbridge area.
  During our search, a body was located by the crew, and after further investigation by the police, we were able to carry out a dignified recovery in challenging terrain.
  The thoughts of all the SARA Team are with the gentleman’s family and friends.

  21st May 2021

  21st May 2021

• Hereford 19-05-21

  Crew from Wyre Forest and Beachley Stations were calledby Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service to assist in an ongoing search in Hereford. The crew deployed rescue boat SARA 26 ‘Stuart Frost’ at around 1300 and did an extensive search of a stretch of the River Wye below Hereford. One of the SARA Newport members acting as the search base and helping to launch & recover the boat
  With nothing found at this time, the crew were stood down around 1600.

  19th May 2021

  19th May 2021

• Tintern 07-05-21

  SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched mid-afternoon, to the River Wye following a report of an unmanned canoe floating upstream, close to Tintern Abbey.

  Close to Tintern the crew encountered a canoe with two occupants paddling downstream. A conversation with the occupants confirmed their canoe had been left on the river bank whilst shopping in Tintern and they’d returned to find it had drifted away. Fortunately they had been able to self recover before SARA 1 arrived.

  The occupants were given a lift back to Chepstow pontoon, and SARA 1 recovered at Beachley slipway at 17.50.

  7th May 2021

  7th May 2021

• Hills Flats, River Severn 29-04-21

  We were called out by the Coastguard on Thursday morning to assist with 2 yachts aground off Hills Flats. Sharpness’ SARA Lifeboat 2 was launched immediately, quickly followed by SARA Lifeboat 4 to ensure we had cover for shallow water working.
  Upon arriving on scene, there were 2 boats high and dry with the crew of each boat safe and well. Due to the falling tide, nothing could be done at that time to refloat the vessels, so a plan was made to refloat at the next high tide.
  Given the evening tide was approx 0.25m lower, we knew this was going to be a tough recovery. We enlisted the help of SARA Beachley and SARA Lifeboat 1 to assist on scene, as we had two vessels to refloat in a short space of time.
  We re-launched later that evening and SARA 2, SARA 4 and SARA 1 met up. A plan was devised and as the incoming tide came in, SARA 1 was able to free the first boat and tow her to safe water. The second boat was in shallower location and a tricky position so timing and execution were vital to not cause damage to the vessel. As high tide hit, it was clear there was not enough water to refloat. SARA 1 was able to reposition the vessel and with the help of some crew members shifting the weight of the vessel, she was released and towed to safe water.
  A great outcome and a great display of inter station teamwork! Thanks to all involved

  29th Apr 2021

  29th Apr 2021

• Gloucester 28-04-21

  Around 2330 on Wednesday night, land and water search assets were requested by Gloucestershire Police to assist in the search for a missing lady in the Gloucester area.
  Team members from SARA’s Tewkesbury and Beachley Stations deployed on foot and searches of the River Severn were undertaken by boat crews from SARA’s Sharpness Station, operating from two rescue boats.
  With nothing found we stood down at 4am, to recommence the search this morning. However we are pleased to say that contact with the missing lady was made by the police shortly thereafter, and our teams were not required again.
  Our thanks to our police colleagues and we wish the lady well.
  Many thanks to all the volunteers who turned out in the small hours – and their families!

  28th Apr 2021

  28th Apr 2021

• Gloucester 25-04-21

  Shortly before 2am, whilst a separate missing person search near Cheltenham was ongoing, the SARA Sharpness crew were tasked to assist Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire fire and rescue service with a search for a missing person in Gloucester.
  The crew launched two boats on to the River Severn in Elmore and commenced a search upriver towards Llanthony weir. Sadly, during the search, our crews located the body of young man.
  With the police having been informed, a dignified recovery of the body was carried out in very challenging circumstances. With all boats recovered, all crew were stood down at 0630 hrs.
  The thoughts of SARA are with the friends and family of the man involved at this tragic time.

  25th Apr 2021

  25th Apr 2021

• Cheltenham 24-04-21

  Around 9pm on Sat 24 April we were requested by Gloucestershire Constabulary to support a search for a high risk missing person in the area north of Cheltenham,. Land search teams from SARA Beachley, SARA Tewkesbury and Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group, along with a dog team from SARDA (South Wales) searched until around 3am, when they were stood down with nothing having been found.
  The search was resumed at midday the following day (Sunday 25 April), with teams from SARA stations at Beachley, Tewkesbury and Wyre Forest together with Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation meeting again at Cheltenham Racecourse. We were delighted that during this time the missing man was found safe and well, and our search teams were stood down at 3pm.

  24th Apr 2021

  24th Apr 2021

• Tidenham 16-04-21

  SARA were called out by Gloucestershire Constabulary mid-morning to search for a missing person near Tidenham in the Forest of Dean.
  Shortly after deploying search teams, the missing person was found safe by a member of the public, and the search teams were able to assist with helping the individual back to the road.
  Many thanks to those from Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group and SARA Tewkesbury who responded so swiftly to join the SARA Beachley team on the search. Also thanks to the Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales who were stood down en route.

  16th Apr 2021

  16th Apr 2021