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.

  • 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
  • South Cerney 08-10-23

    We were called out around 0630, requested by Gloucestershire Constabulary to support a search for a missing lady near South Cerney. With two big fundraising events happening this morning we asked Wiltshire Search and Rescue for support, and they along with land search teams from SARA stations at Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds (in Cirencester) plus water search teams from SARA Upton and Sharpness, all made for the RV. The land search team from Wyre Forest was asked for their availability to assist if required.

    And then, before 8am, a sharp-eyed SARA team member, who lives locally and was heading to one of the events, spotted the missing lady in a village and was able to get her into the care of the police. We were stood down from the callout and in some cases team members could get back to the planned morning’s training as well as focusing on the fundraising work.

    Very well done to all concerned, and thank you.

    8th Oct 2023
    8th Oct 2023
  • Sharpness 05-10-23

    At 1154hrs, the SARA Sharpness Lifeboat crew received an immediate tasking by Milford Haven Coastguard to respond to a Mayday call broadcast by a vessel north of Sharpness.
    The crew launched SARA Lifeboat 2 and made best speed to the casualty vessels, a fleet of dinghies – with one sailor having entered the water and sustaining a head injury. Following some on scene casualty care, the sailor was transferred back to Sharpness where he was sent on to receive further care.

    The crew then returned to the fleet of dinghies, and with the conditions having worsened, the decision was made to tow some of the fleet and their crews back to their launch point near Oldbury.
    We have since been informed that the sailor only received superficial injuries and has already been back to check on their boat.

    A great outcome to what could have been a very dangerous situation.

    5th Oct 2023
    5th Oct 2023
  • Offenham, Evesham 30-09-23

    Early on Saturday morning, we were tasked by Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service to assist with an incident involving a car in the river near Offenham, Evesham.

    Team members from the SARA Stations at Wyre Forest, Tewkesbury and Upton all made their way to the scene, with equipment including two boats and inflatable rescue sleds.

    Shortly after arriving on scene, we were stood down, the situation having been resolved with everyone safe and well.

    30th Sep 2023
    30th Sep 2023
  • Newport 21-09-23

    SARA LIfeboat 14 was launched this morning on request of HM Coastguard to assist a vessel that appeared to have broken its mooring and was drifting on the river Usk.

    The crew towed the vessel to a place of safety to protect it from damage/theft.

    21st Sep 2023
    21st Sep 2023
  • Wick (Bath) 07 & 08-09-23

    On Thursday and again today (Friday) we were asked to provide support to Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue with a missing person search in the Wick area, near Bath. Team members from SARA Beachley and Cotswolds stations attended, along with colleagues from Wiltshire Search and Rescue.

    Teams searched on both (very hot!) days until nightfall, but were then stood down with nothing having been found. Many thanks to all who responded.

    Update – the following Tuesday it was announced that the misper has been found safe and well out of the area

    8th Sep 2023
    8th Sep 2023
  • Newport 05-09-23

    Another immediate launch request was received shortly before lunchtime today in support of a police operation on the River Usk at Newport. The third lifeboat tasking in under 48 hours. The person has since been confirmed safe on land.

    5th Sep 2023
    5th Sep 2023
  • Newport 04 & 05-09-23

    SARA lifeboat 14 was requested to launch during the early hours of this morning for the second day running, attending an incident on the River Usk at Newport. Stood down shortly before launch , persons reported safe and well on land.

    5th Sep 2023
    5th Sep 2023
  • River Severn 14-08-23

    About 0530 we were called out by the Coastguard, to search an area of the lower River Severn, following concern for a missing lady. SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched from SARA Beachley and SARA Lifeboats 2 and 4 from SARA Sharpness, and all boats conducted searches of the river on the incoming tide. The searches were supported by the Coastguard and Police helicopters and both Chepstow and Portishead Coastguard Teams, who completed shoreline searches.

    The Sharpness lifeboats SARA 2 & SARA 4 were stood down around 0900, and with the tide now having turned SARA Lifeboat 1 was tasked to continue the search downstream of the M48 Bridge. She returned to Beachley around 0930 and was then recovered due to the falling tide. The smaller SARA Lifeboat 3 was then launched to continue the search further downstream, below the M4 POW Bridge.

    Whilst heading down to their search area, the crew stopped to speak with a kayaker who was making his way downstream to Bristol in case he had seen anything. It was actually the same kayaker that SARA Sharpness had been called out to check on on Sunday. SARA 3 completed its search but around 1145 the crew realised that they had not seen the kayaker again, and they had noticed that the river conditions around the M4 bridge were very choppy. They called the Coastguard to report their concerns and the Coastguard contacted Bristol Vessel Traffic Service (VTS).

    VTS was able to spot the kayak, now upturned, and together with the Coastguard they were were able to vector the SARA Lifeboat onto it in the area of Denny Island. Fortunately, the kayaker – who did not have a radio or any other means of communication – had clung onto his kayak. He was taken aboard the SARA lifeboat and transported to Portishead where he was handed to the care of Portishead RNLI and the local Coastguard Rescue Team. If the SARA crew had not located him he would have been carried out to sea!, on their way the crew liaised with a kayaker, who they subsequently had to rescue and take to safety at Portishead; SARA 3 then completed a further search tasking before returning to Beachley at 1300, with nothing having been found.

    Around this time Avon and Somerset Police had requested that Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue (ASSAR) conduct a land search for the lady, and they requested the support of the SARA Land Search Teams. SARA team members from our stations at Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds were called out. The combined land search teams from SARA and ASSAR conducted an extensive search of the relevant area, but nothing was found.

    Very sadly however around 1800 we were called again by the Coastguard, to reports of a body on the shoreline near Newnham, and SARA Sharpness deployed two teams to the area. The body was recovered by the Fire Service and HM Coastguard Chepstow, along with Gloucestershire Constabulary, with SARA standing by in case of issues. The Police have subsequently confirmed that this was the body of the missing lady.

    This was a busy and complex day for us, with a number of our volunteers deploying in more than one phase of the operation. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the lady concerned.

    14th Aug 2023
    14th Aug 2023
  • River Severn Slimbridge 13-08-23

    At 1015 hrs, the SARA Sharpness Lifeboat crew were called out to locate and assist a possible kayaker in the water in the Severn Estuary near to Slimbridge Wetlands.

    Our Lifeboat Crew quickly located the kayaker who was making way. We monitored his progress down the river and put a boat in at Sharpness to ensure his safe landing at Lydney where the Coastguard Rescue Team was waiting

    13th Aug 2023
    13th Aug 2023
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