Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteers in missing person search.

Both RNLI lifeboats were launched at around 00.30 am and our volunteer crews, having not long left their beds, proceeded to carry out shoreline searches, aided by night sight, thermal imaging and flares.

Nathan Meager, on his first shout as an Atlantic 85 helm, describes the operation below:-

‘Both boats launched to conduct a shore line search for a missing person: The crew of D class lifeboat Burnham Reach searched from Burnham jetty towards Brean Down, while the crew of the Atlantic lifeboat, Doris Day and Brian, searched just North of Berrow church to Brean Down. Our night sight, thermal image camera and flares were all used in the search.

A good result as we were eventually stood down by Milford Haven Coastguard control when the person was found and in the hands of Burnham-on-sea coastguards and Police. We returned to Burnham jetty for recovery at 1.30 am by our shore crew. I got home about 0230, after wash-down and preparation for the next launch, which could happen at any time.’

Quote: It was a good team effort utilising all our equipment and resources with multiple agencies involved and a positive outcome

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Mobile phone Images with this release (RNLI/Daren Rogers)

File name: Boats away: Both lifeboats have just launched at 00.30 am

File name: Atlantic _recovery: Burnham Atlantic 85 Doris Day and Brian being recovered at 1.30 am

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 15^th May 2004, but has been operational since December 2003.

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For more information about this release please telephone Mike Lang, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07889 815860 or email [email protected],

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Alternatively, telephone Amy Caldwell RNLI Public Relations Manager (South) Tel: 07920 818 807, [email protected].

As a last resort, contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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