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Burnham-on-Sea RNLI tasked after concern for sea swimmers at Berrow
Milford Haven coastguard control paged the volunteer crews, Monday 10.35 pm, 20th July, after a family member reported two swimmers in the sea at Berrow beach, possibly drifting away from the shore. A rescue helicopter had also been tasked.
Both Burnham lifeboats were quickly launched and proceeded towards the target area. Whilst the lifeboats were en route, the family member had managed to contact the swimmers, and a father and daughter returned to the shore. The lifeboats were stood down by Milford control, and returned to the slipway for recovery and wash-down by the shore crew volunteers, before being made ready for the next service.
Upon their return to the shore, the swimmers had been assessed by a mobile Coastguard, unit and found to be safe and well.
Launch Authority/Helmsman Marc Smith said; ‘I’d like to remind the general public that despite the hot summer we are having, our sea temperatures are still only around 15-18 degrees and we have some of the fastest and quickest tides in the world here at Burnham, so please be careful and respect the sea'
RNLI media contacts
For more information, in the first instance, please contact Mike Lang, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station on 07889 815860 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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 2004.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Mike Lang, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South West, [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.