Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat volunteers called to investigate floating object

A walker on the River Brue footpath, adjacent to Apex leisure park, at Burnham-on-Sea, had reported seeing an object in what appeared to be a black plastic bag, floating in the river.

Immediately, the planned training launch changed profile into a full emergency launch of D Class lifeboat Burnham Reach. On launching, the volunteer crew was detailed to carry out a search of the River Brue, by Coastguard Control at Milford Haven. A search of the Brue was carried out, with three white flares deployed to aid visibility, but nothing was found. Hence, Milford control stood the volunteers down at 8.15 pm, with the lifeboats returned to Burnham slipway, for recovery and wash-down, before being returned to readiness for the next launch.

Launch Authority Phil Counsell said; ‘We launched in less that 15 minutes, into a calm sea-state, close to top of the tide, with excellent visibility, although rapidly diminishing light, necessitating the use of white flares. One casualty of the evening was the inability of crewmember Megan, to complete her programmed tier one assessment. In effect this was also her first shout.’

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

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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.

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