2010 Launch and Incident Details

Date

Boat

Details

Launch 14 

16th June 2010

B795

A group of youngsters from a Birmingham school, who were on an educational visit, had a day to remember when an emergency call was recieved just as they were being shown around the lifeboat station. The lifeboat crew were paged at 11:17 after Swansea Coastguard received a call  from a member of the public, who had spotted an inflatable rubber dinghy in difficulties off Brean beach. The Atlantic Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was launched and located the dinghy 100 metres out, trying to paddle back to shore against the outgoing tide. The exhausted young adult was taken aboard the lifeboat and taken back to the safety of the beach and awaiting Auxiliary Coastguards. The lifeboat then returned to Burnham for recovery and washdown.

Launch 12 & Launch 13

30th May 2010

B795 & D664

The Lifeboats were paged at 17:25 after Swansea Coastguard received a Mayday distress call from a 20ft yacht experiencing difficulties in Bridgwater Bay. Both boats were launched and located the yacht west of Stert Island. The yacht was having difficulty making any headway in the strong winds and heavy seas. With the assistance of the crew from 'Puffin', the crew of 'Staines Whitfield' towed the casualty into the safety of the River Brue and a berth alongside Burnham Sailing Club pontoons.

Launch 11

30th May 2010

B795

The Atlantic class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' launched at 11:15 following a request from Swansea Coastguard to investigate reports of a yacht in difficulties a mile out from Burnham Lower Lighthouse. Arriving on scene, it was ascertained from the skipper that though he was finding conditions challenging, all was well. With the skipper confirming he had the situation under control, the lifebaot returned to the town jetty for recovery.

Launch 9 & Lanuch 10

23rd May 2010

B795 & D664

The Lifeboats were paged to assist in the search for a girl missing from Berrow Beach. Both boats were launched to assist in the search and were eventually stood down when the girl was found safe and well. 'Staines Whitfield' and 'Puffin' then both returned to Burnham for recovery.

Launch 8

22nd May 2010

B795

The lifeboats were called out at 16:10 to investigate inflatable objects drifting out to sea on the fast receding tide. The 'Staines Whifield' launched and on scene nearly a mile out from the beach, ascertained no persons in distress but located a number of items floating out on the outgoing tide. With no one in danger, the lifeboat returned to the town jetty for recovery.

Launch 7

22nd May 2010

D664

The lifeboats were paged at 16:10 to assist a local lad drifting out to sea on the outgoing tide in a small dinghy. The lad had been trying to reach an inflatable that was swept away from the beach when his oar snapped leaving him struggling against the receding tide. The D  class  lifeboat 'Puffin' launched and located the casualty near the lower lighthouse, where he had managed to beach himself. The lifeboat brought the casualty back to Burnham jetty before recovery and return to the lifeboat station.

Launch 5 & Launch 6

18th April 2010

B795 & D664

The Lifeboats were paged at 19:25 to rescue a disabled yacht. The casualty, a 26ft Macgregor sloop, had been reported as disabled with steering out of action and its keel jammed down. Both the 'Staines Whitfield' and 'Puffin' lifeboats were launched, and proceeded with haste to the yacht, which they found approximately a mile and a half off-shore from the Lower Light on Burnham beach.

It transpired the yacht was from Combwich, in the River Parrett. The crew of 'Puffin' landed a lifeboat volunteer onto the casualty, to assist, whilst 'Staines Whifield' crew set up a towing bridle to tow the yacht to its home port.

On arrival at Combwich, there was not sufficient water at the mooring, so two of the three yacht crew were landed on shore, whilst the small flotilla waited for the incoming tide to reach the mooring. Once the yacht was safely secured, the remaining crewmember was landed, and both lifeboats returned to Burnham slipway.

Launch 4

11th April 2010

B795

B class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was launched at 17:45 to assist a grounded yacht. A fellow yachtsman had spotted the 22ft sailing sloop attempting to sail out from a lee shore on eastern side of Steart Island, at the top of the tide. Swansea Coastguard were notified and it was decided to launch the lifeboat.

In the meantime however, another yachtsman had managed to pass a line to the casualty and to tow her clear of trouble. having ascertained that the yacht was out of trouble, the lifeboat crew returned to the slipway for recovery.

Launch 3

9th April 2010

D664

Launch 2

28th March 2010

B795

'Staines Whitfield' Atlantic 75 lifeboat was launched at 17:50 to assist Burnham Costguard with a search for a missing dog. The dog had gone missing during the afternoon and their was a strong suspicion that it had fallen  over the edge of the Down. A thorough search of the shoreline and cliffs was undertaken but nothing was found and both the lifeboat and the Coastguard team were stood down at 19:45.

Launch 1

26th March 2010

B795

Atlantic 75 lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was launched at 15:49 following a request form Swansea Coastguard. A member of the public had reported two persons apparently cut off by the tide on the south side of Brean Down.

In fact the two were climbers fully aware of their situation and the lifeboat stood down and returned for recovery at Burnham Jetty.