Burnham-on-Sea RNLI crews paged after an emergency locator beacon alert
Milford Haven Coastguard control paged the volunteers at 2.13 pm today, 25 July, at around the bottom of today’s spring tide. The volunteers speedily responded and the station Atlantic 85 lifeboat Doris Day and Brian was taken to the beach to be launched from the bank of the River Parret
Once afloat, the volunteer crew entered the Bristol channel, to liaise with Coastguard Control, to assist in location of the beacon. Barry Dock lifeboat was also called into action, and a rescue helicopter scrambled.
The triggering of an emergency beacon could mean an immediate distress issue, so no effort was initially spared. However it transpired that the triggered beacon had recently been sold, and the probable location of the beacon being land-based led to the conclusion that this was an accidental triggering. The Atlantic lifeboat crew were stood down, and the craft returned to Burnham , for recovery to the Lifeboat station, at low water.
Launch Authority Marc Smith said’ ‘The infamous Burnham mud made recovery challenging, but with experience, teamwork and training this was achieved, and lifeboat, crew, plus launch tractors were taken to the station for an extremely muddy wash-down
RNLI Lifeboats at Burnham-on-Sea
A 8.5m Atlantic 85 named Doris Day and Brian plus a smaller 4.95m D class IB1 inflatable named Burnham Reach The station was opened officially on 15th May 2004, but has been operational since December 2003
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Mike Lang, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station on 07889 815860 or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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