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.

• Beachley River Wye (Cow Rescue) 29-05-23

  We were called out around 1830 on Bank Holiday Monday to support Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS). The task was to rescue Gertrude the cow (not her real name), who had somehow ended up swimming in the Wye alongside a bank of very soft mud on a falling tide, with her calf in the field (on the Beachley bank) with the rest of the herd.

  Lifeboat SARA3 with its crew arrived on scene about 1840, and for an hour coaxed Gertrude down the river to a gully where the fire team and the farmer were preparing to extract her.
  The fire team meanwhile set up a line of 3 mud platforms to aid access, as SARA3 blocked the cow from leaving the gully. This inevitably resulted in SARA3 coming to rest on the mud. So we brought SARA14 in from Newport to try to release SARA3, but we eventually had to simply tie the boat off to wait for a rising tide. SARA14 ferried the muddy crew back to Beachley.
  Meanwhile Gertude was unceremoniously dragged up the mud, by the GFRS Animal Rescue team.

  As the sun was setting and the cow was still on the mud bank, the fire team set up scene lighting. Gertrude was obviously very exhausted, but, as they were leaving the scene, our crew members witnessed her sitting up, nosing with other members of her herd who had gathered round to welcome her back.
  We retrieved SARA3, after being refloated by the tide, about 0100.

  SARA crew members will be back at Beachley station in the morning to hose everything down.

  29th May 2023

  29th May 2023

• Severn Beach 22-05-23

  Earlier today, SARA Lifeboat SARA3 launched to support HM Coastguard Chepstow and HM Coastguard Portishead following reports of 2 people cut off by a rising tide off Severn Beach in the River Severn. Our crew stood by in the lifeboat whilst the coastguard helicopter winched the 2 people to safety.

  We understand they were hypothermic (very cold) and were taken by ambulance to hospital for checks. Avon Fire & Rescue Service also attended.

  22nd May 2023

  22nd May 2023

• Chepstow River Wye 14-05-23

  SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched at approx 1530 this afternoon, in response to a tasking from HM Coastguard to go to the aid of a motor cruiser in the River Wye. She had been used for water-skiiing but had suffered engine failure around Chepstow Castle and could not be re-started, so the crew had called for help.

  On the incoming tide the cruiser drifted upstream and SARA 1 picked her up near Lancaut Chapel. The SARA crew took her in tow, and with the boat’s crew warm and in good spirits they towed her back to Beachley slipway, to recover both boats around 1645.
  Many thanks to all who responded.

  For info, water-skiing is allowed on the Wye on that section, from just beyond Chepstow Castle as far as Livox Quarry. Jet-skiiing, which we are sometimes asked about, is not permitted above Chepstow railway bridge. For more info, please see
  https://gloucesterharbourtrustees.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/GHT-Byelaws-2006.pdf

  14th May 2023

  14th May 2023

• Beachley 07-05-23

  SARA Lifeboat 1 ‘The Jim Hewitt’ was launched at 8.30pm yesterday (following King Charles’ Coronation) to rescue a group of youngsters. They had been cut off by the tide on Lyde Rock (the gantry opposite the Old Ferry Inn Business Centre at Beachley). Realising they had been caught out by the height of the spring tide – at the place with the greatest tidal range in Europe – they had sensibly called 999.

  The lifeboat was launched rapidly after we were alerted by the Coastguard. The four relieved teenagers were brought back to Beachley slipway, and HM Coastguard Chepstow looked after them from there.
  Many thanks to all who responded.

  7th May 2023

  7th May 2023

• Oldbury 19-04-23

  At 0838hrs, Sharpness Lifeboat was tasked to launch on an immediate response, to reports of an upturned vessel with crew on board between Lydney and Oldbury.

  Lifeboat 2 was launched and made way to search for the vessel. Further reports received from Milford Haven Coastguard stated the crew had self righted the vessel, but to proceed to check on welfare. By the time we reached Oldbury, the vessel was safety recovered into Thornbury Sailing Club unaided.

  A great outcome and thanks to those that turned in to respond.

  19th Apr 2023

  19th Apr 2023

• Beachley 06-04-23

  We were called out shortly before 4pm, to support Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search for a high risk missing person believed to be in the Beachley area.

  Land Search team members from SARA Tewkesbury and Cotswolds Stations, as well as Beachley, made their way to the RV at SARA Beachley and Beachley lifeboat crew were also brought to standby at the station.

  Fortunately the lady in question was spotted by two SARA members en route to the RV, and the Police were able to attend to her directly. The SARA team were stood down by 4.30pm.
  A great result, and many thanks to everyone who attended.

  6th Apr 2023

  6th Apr 2023

• Stinchcome 02 & 03-04-23

  At 22:03 last night (2 April) the SARA Land Search team was called out by Gloucestershire Constabulary to assist with a search for a missing person in the Stinchcombe area. Team members from SARA Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds stations all deployed.

  Searches were conducted until 3am, then suspended to allow team members to get some sleep prior to restarting again in daylight this morning. As team members gathered at Stinchcombe prior to re-commencing searching the missing person was found sadly deceased in an adjacent area.

  Our thoughts are with the missing persons family and friends at this difficult time. We would like to thank colleagues from SARDA South Wales, Wiltshire Search and Rescue and Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue who were travelling to assist us with our searches today.

  3rd Apr 2023

  3rd Apr 2023

• Lydney 25-02-23

  At 1344 hrs, the Sharpness Lifeboat crew were tasked with an immediate launch by Milford Haven Coastguard to assist a sailing dinghy with two persons on board, south of Lydney harbour.

  As crew arrived on scene, the dinghy was located aground on the sands and its crew were transported ashore, with the vessel secured by its anchor.

  At 2130 hrs, crew re-launched for the recovery of the anchored vessel. Working closely alongside HM Coastguard Chepstow the crew re-located the dinghy which had moved with the incoming tide, and returned it back to its awaiting owners at Lydney Harbour.

  All assets were back on station and ready for service at 2305 hrs.

  25th Feb 2023

  25th Feb 2023

• River Severn – St Pierre Pill 22-02-23

  SARA Lifeboat 1 ‘The Jim Hewitt’ was launched shortly after 8am this morning; the Coastguard having received reports of two vessels adrift on today’s super high spring tide.
  HM Coastguard Chepstow helped to navigate the lifeboat to their location, and the crew were able to take both vessels into St Pierre Pill.

  Chepstow Coastguard were there to make sure the boats were secure and to liaise with Chepstow & District Yacht Club.

  22nd Feb 2023

  22nd Feb 2023

• Standish Woods, Stroud 21-02-23

  Land search teams were called out to the Standish Woods area to the north of Stroud in the last afternoon, to support Gloucestershire Police with the search for a high-risk missing man. Crew from SARA Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds, together with Glos Cave Rescue assembled at the RV, as searches were commencing the Police identified that the missing man was well outside of that area, and we were stood down around 1900.

  21st Feb 2023

  21st Feb 2023