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A breakfast time callout for Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteers

Lifeboats News Release

The volunteers were alerted by Milford Haven Coastguard Control at 7.39am, on Thursday 17 October, after several reports of a distress flare sighting in the vicinity of the River Parrett.

Library photo of Burnham Lifeboat Doris Day and Brian launching from the beach at Burnham

RNLI/Mike Lang

Library photo of Burnham Lifeboat Doris Day and Brian launching from the beach at Burnham
Milford control therefore sent out a page for launch of the Burnham-on-Sea lifeboats.

The volunteer crews gathered at the lifeboat station and speedily launched both boats. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat crew were tasked to search up the River Parrett towards Combwich and beyond. Because of the fast incoming flood tide they almost reached Bridgwater in no time at all. However, with no sign of a casualty, they turned back towards Burnham, and were re-tasked to carry out a shoreline search through the cut between Steart and Stert Island, as far as Lilstock Cove.

In the meantime, the D class lifeboat crew were searching in the River Brue, again with no result. The crews were stood down by Milford and returned to Burnham slipway for recovery and wash-down by the volunteer shore crew. Once the boats had been made ready for service, and put safely away, the volunteers carried on with what they should have been doing before the interruption.

Lifeboat helm Nathan Meager said: ‘Most of us had just sat down for breakfast, which of course we had to leave, and this obviously interfered with the school run. We thank all our employers and families for their indulgence and co-operation. Every time we launch for a shout, we are potentially saving lives, but we never know what is involved until we launch. One reason why we train so hard.’

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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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