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Tamsin ThomasRNLI Public Relations Manager at South West .
‘Our thoughts are very much with the family involved as we continue to assist in the search at Burnham on Sea.’
Lifeboats News Release
More than 50 RNLI volunteers from three lifeboat stations in Somerset have been involved in the search for a child missing at Burnham on Sea.
Last night (Sunday 19 August) crews from Burnham on Sea, Weston super Mare and Minehead were called in to join a multi agency hunt for the four year old who went into the water at the town’s slip.The alarm was raised around 6pm last night and very shortly after coastguards called in the Burnham on Sea RNLI team who immediately launched their Atlantic and D class inshore lifeboats. They were later joined by their volunteer colleagues from the Weston super Mare and Minehead RNLI lifeboat stations who responded onboard their Atlantic inshore lifeboats. The RNLI teams joined a huge multi agency search involving lifeboats, coastguard teams, three helicopters and police officers. At times some of the RNLI volunteers waded through the water roped together to search. They also used one of the charity's launching tractors as a platform in order to scan the water from a height.
During the night the RNLI crews from Weston super Mare and Minehead were stood down but the two lifeboats crews from Burnham on Sea continued to search. This morning they have been joined once again by the RNLI volunteers from Weston super Mare in their Atlantic inshore lifeboat.An RNLI spokesman said this morning; ‘Our thoughts are very much with the family involved as we continue to assist in the search at Burnham on Sea.’
Notes to editors
Please find attached a library picture of the two Burnham on Sea RNLI lifeboats on the water. Please credit RNLI/Mike Lang.
RNLI media contactsFor further information please contact either Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public Relations Manager for the south west, on 07786 668847 or email Tamsin_Thomas@rnli.org.uk or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 email Pressoffice@rnli.org.uk
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from 236 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
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The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland
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‘Our thoughts are very much with the family involved as we continue to assist in the search at Burnham on Sea.’