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Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteer crews paged to assist disabled jetski

Lifeboats News Release

Milford Haven Coastguard control sent out a launch request at 12:43 pm today (23 November) after receiving a report of the craft drifting off the beach without engine power.

Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Doris Day and Brian' returning for recovery

RNLI/Mike Lang

Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Doris Day and Brian' returning for recovery

Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Doris Day and Brian, was quickly launched, with the four man crew proceeding to look for the casualty craft. After further information from coastguard, it was deduced that the jetski in question was in the sea a little way past Maddock Slade, with the jetski operator on the beach, identifiable by his yellow jacket

The tide was on the ebb, and further intervention by the Atlantic at that position would have placed the lifeboat at risk. Hence, the station softtrak Kay’s Cart (a tracked vehicle) was tasked with bringing the jetski launch trailer to collect the craft for return to Burnham jetty.

Situation resolved, the volunteers were stood down and the lifeboat returned to Burnham jetty for recovery to the lifeboat station with a well deserved wash-down and made ready for the next service call.

Helmsman Scott Rundle said; ‘Sea state was smooth, and the casualty was going well, until the engine stopped and would not restart. With the outgoing tide there was the risk of being swept out into the Bristol Channel.’

If you’re in (or see) danger on our coastline, please don’t hesitate to dial 999 and ‘Ask for the Coastguard.’

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



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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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