Weston-super-Mare RNLI respond to 9 incidents in 9 days

Matt Lyons, volunteer helm on the D Class Helm said ‘It’s been a very busy week with a total of 9 varying shouts since 8 July. These include searches for missing people, a motorboat with engine failure, a false alarm to kayakers, people stuck in the mud and assisting local emergency services.

But it was the incident during our Open Day on Saturday (11 July) that stands out the most. I was really proud of the Weston crew, they all put their training into practice, everyone stayed calm to reassure a child who had been separated from his mum and ended up in the water. It was without doubt a life saved and we were all relieved we located the casualty in time’

On Saturday 11 July a member of the public alerted crew that a person had entered the water but not returned, in the area of Knightstone Island at approx.13:50pm. At the time of the incident the Weston RNLI Lifeboat Open Day was taking place with local HM Coastguard in attendance, who quickly established the person was a young child who had got separated from their mother.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Liam McDermott recounted ‘This type of job is extremely serious and can develop into a life-or-death scenario very quickly, so along with the local HM Coastguard we directed both boats to launch immediately’.

Whilst the lifeboats were being made ready a formal request to launch came in at 13:54pm from the HM Coastguard Milford Haven who also received 999 calls from the public.

The D Class lifeboat launched first followed immediately by the larger Atlantic 85 B Class. A search was initiated with the tide moving south across the bay. After a 10-minute search the D-Class spotted them half a mile from the entry point where he entered the water. The Atlantic stood by to provide back-up assistance.

Chris Cox, volunteer lifeboat crew said ‘When we arrived the casualty was neck deep in water and bouncing up and down on tip toes. With a fast-incoming tide it wouldn’t have been long before they were out of their depth. They were initially scared of the lifeboat and hesitant to come and get in, so I entered the water, providing reassurance and recovered them into the lifeboat’.

The D Class lifeboat returned to the Knightstone launch slipway where the casualty was handed over to their mother and the care of Lifeboat Medical Advisor and HM Coastguard Paramedic. The casualty was later released from care following safe discharge. Lifeboats were returned to service and crew continued with the RNLI Open Day.

Notes to editors

· Video of Weston-super-Mare rescuing 10-year child in Weston Bay, Video Credit: Liam Metcalf/RNLI

· Photos: Screenshots from rescue video, Photo Credit: Liam Metcalff/RNLI

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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre https://rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 over 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 142,200 lives.

Weston-super-Mare RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1882. Between 1882 and 2023 the Weston-super-Mare volunteer lifeboat crew have launched 2,269 times and saved 477 lives.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Holly Turner, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Weston-super-Mare, [email protected] or Weston’s Social Media Officer Kate Sykes [email protected]

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for South West England, 07920 818807, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.