Burnham on Sea RNLI - Shouts 2009

Summary Details Of All Shouts

2009 Launch and Incident Details
Date	Boat	Details
Launch 38 & 39 8th December 2009	B795 & D664	Both lifeboats were paged at 15:35 to assist in the search for a missing man. D class lifeboat 'Puffin' was tasked initially to search the area up the River Parrett. Atlantic lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was subsequently launched to search an area between Stert Point and Brean Down. The search was called off after the man was located at an address within the town and the lifeboats were stood down.
Launch 37 22nd November 2009	D664	The lifeboat station was paged by Swansea Coastguard at 14:07 with a report of a windsurfer in difficulties in the water near the lower lighthouse. Fortunately the windsurfer was able to recover himself before the lifeboat was launched and the lifeboat personnel were stood down.
Launch 35 & 36 25th October 2009	B795 & D664	B Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was launched at 08:29 following a report to Swansea Coastguard that a yacht was in difficulty off Lilstock, near Kilve, with her sails in tatters and dragging her anchor. D664 'Puffin' was launched shortly after to offer assistance. It transpired that the 35ft Macwester ketch 'Jekeeta' was drifting quickly and the lifeboat eventually rendezvoused with her at a position off of the Gore sands. The head sail was found to be shredded and the engine giving problems. Assistance was offered and accepted by the grateful owner, who had not until then requested assistance. It was decided to tow the ketch to Burnham sailing club for repairs, where it was met by Burnham auxillary coastguard and safely secured.
Incident 34 25th October 2009		As the lifeboats were being launched (see incident details below), personnel launching the lifeboat came upon an elderly man who had tripped over whilst crossing the road near the town slipway. The gentleman had sustained a head injury and was brought back to the lifeboat station for immediate first aid, whilst an ambulance was called. After assessment from the ambulance crew, the injured man was transported onward to hospital.
Launch 33 17th October 2009	B795	B Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was paged at 18.30 to assist a 26ft sailing boat 'Viami' that had suffered engine failure in the River Parrett. Arriving on scene, the lifeboat crew found the two people on board the yacht had anchored to prevent the yacht being driven up river on the still incoming tide. The lifeboat crew secured lines to the vessel and undertook a tow back to Burnham Sailing Club. With the yacht secure alongside it's pontoon, the lifeboat recovered at 19.30.
Launch 32 2nd September 2009	B795	B Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was paged at 17.55 to reports of a windsurfer in difficulties in the water just off Burnham. Fortunately, windsurfer was able to recover himself without the need for the lifeboat to enter the water and it was stood down immediately prior to launching at 18:00.
Launch 31 30th August 2009	D664	D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' was launched at 18:28 to investigate reports of a suspected dead whale in the Parrett Estuary. The 10 metre minke whale was located between Stert Point and Stert Island. It was established that the whale was indeed dead and thus not in distress and that in it's current position it was not a shipping hazard. The whale carcass was left to drift out with the out-going tide and the lifeboat returned to station.
Launch 30 26th August 2009	D664	D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' was paged at 11:48 to aid the recovery of a 16 year old youth from the water. Fortunately, the youth was quickly recovered from the water without the need for the lifeboat to enter the water and it was stood down immediately prior to lauching.
Launch 28 & 29 21st August 2009	B794 & D664	Both Burnham RNLI Lifeboats were paged at 20:59 to aid the search for an 86 year old woman reported missing from a Nursing home in Bridgwater. Fortunately the woman was quickly found and the lifeboats were actually stood down prior to launching to sea.
Launch 26 & 27 20th August 2009	B794 & D664	Both Burnham RNLI Lifeboats were launched at 15:00 hrs to assist the refloating of a grounded power vessel (20 foot fishing vessel with forward cabin and an open stern) on Gore Sands in the Bristol Channel. The crew of 'Staines Whitfield' worked together with the crew of 'Puffin', who placed a line on the casualty and towed him from the sands into safe water before senting him on his way, apparently to Blue Anchor.
Launch 25 18th August 2009	D664	RNLI Prospective helmsman Stuart Lacey had launched Puffin, the Burnham-on-Sea D Class lifeboat, under the watchful eye of RNLI assessor Nigel Jones (RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector), to undergo his assessment as D Class helm. They had only just launched when Swansea Coastguard control diverted them, at 19:41 hrs, to a Mayday distress call from a broken down power boat, apparently off Hinkley Point. Stuart took the challenge and with permission from his assessor, set off for Hinkley. Having reached the approximately locality and finding nothing, they were eventually stood down by Swansea, because the casualty vessel's owner had corrected his position as being "off Hulestone Point" (some distance away). Swansea subsequently paged the MInehead lifeboat to take on the task, and Stuart returned to Burnham jetty for recovery to the lifeboat station.
Launch 24 7th August 2009	B795	Atlantic lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was tasked by Swansea Coastguard at 10:02 to assist a disabled 16 ft motor vessel upstream of Combwich on the River Parrett. Arriving on scene, the lifeboat crew found the craft high & dry and the owner safe and walking along the river bank. With the casualty vessel securely anchored and the owner in no apparent danger, the lifeboat returned to Burnham town slip for recovery. The casualty vessel was recovered by the D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' on the next high tide later in the day and taken to Burnham slipway.
Launch 22 & 23 22nd July 2009	B795 & D664	Both the Atlantic Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' and smaller D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' were launched at 15:45 to aid a person reported stuck in the mud on Brean beach. The tide was fast incoming and had already reached the man when he was freed from the mud by Burnham Coastguard, just before the lifeboats arrived on scene. With the casualty safe, the lifeboats were stood down by Swansea Coastguard and returned to Burnham town slip for recovery.
Launch 21 18th July 2009	B795	The Atlantic Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was tasked at 16:08 to assist a 32ft yacht aground in the River Brue. Despite assistance from two other craft, one of which subsequently became entangled in mooring lines, the yacht crew were unable to free their craft. The crew of 'Staines Whitfield' returned the 'good samaritan' back to it's own mooring before ensuring the grounded yacht was temporarily secure. This done, the owner and crew member of the yacht were transported to Burnham Sailing Club's pontoons. The lifeboat was then recovered at Burnham town jetty.
Launch 20 1st July 2009	B795	The Atlantic Class lifeboat 'Staines Whitfield' was undertaking routine training, when it was tasked by Swansea coastguard at 20:45 to investigate reports of 3 persons walking on the mud at low tide adjacent to the lower lighthouse. The lifeboat diverted to the location but by the time it arrived on scene, the persons had left the mud by themselves and the lifeboat was stood down for recovery at the town jetty.
Launch 18 & 19 24th June 2009	B795 & D664	Both lifeboats paged at 13:07 to continue to assist in the search for 2 missing swimmers who had entered the water near Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-Mare, the previous evening. An area similar to that searched by Burnham lifeboats in the early hours of the morning was again searched with the benefit of daylight, however nothing was found. The lifeboats were stood down and returned to Station at 15.30.
Launch 16 & 17 23rd June 2009	B795 & D664	Both lifeboats paged at 23:52 to assist in the search for 2 missing swimmers who had entered the water near Birnbeck Pier, Weston-super-Mare, earlier in the evening. A search was conducted from Brean Down to near Lilstock and back again but nothing was found. A rescue helicoptor from RAF Chivenor and lifeboats from Weston and Barry were also involved in the structured search of the Bristol Channel and with the area fully covered, the search was stood down at approx 03.30 the following day.
Launch 15 21st June 2009	D664	The D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' called to assist a kite surfer in difficulties off Burnham beach. The lifeboat was stood down at 16.20 by Swansea Coastguard as it arrived on the beach and prepared to launch. The casualty had managed to recover himself and thus the lifeboat was not needed and was returned to station.
Launch 14 11th June 2009	D664	The D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' was launched on service at 20:40 to assist a windsurfer in difficulties with a damaged surfboard, near the mouth of the River Brue. The lifeboat picked up both the casualty and the surfboard, which proved to have a broken fin and brought him back to the safety of the shore. The lifeboat was then recovered at Burnham town slip at 21:20 and returned to station.
Launch 13 2nd June 2009	D664	D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' launched on service at 18:20 to reports of two lightweight dinghies about 50 yards offshore in a fast outgoing tide. On scene, lifeboat crew found one dinghy being recovered by it's occupants and the second a few yards off shore. The risks of being afloat three hours after high tide, in a small craft not suited to the sea were explained to all and with all safe on shore, the lifeboat was recovered at 18:40.
Launch 12 31st May 2009	D664	D Class lifeboat 'Puffin' launched on service at 21:00 to liaise with Coastguards, following reports of two persons walking towards the incoming tide on the mud at Brean. The prospective casualties, believed to be foreign nationals, returned to the safety of the beach unaided however and the lifeboat was stood down for recovery at the town slip at 21:30.
Launch 10 & Launch 11 25th May 2009	B795 & D664	Both lifeboats 'Staines Whitfield' and 'Puffin' launched on service at 17:10 after a request by Swansea Coastguard. The lifeboats were tasked to investigate a report of a person in the water near the mouth of the River Brue. Once on scene, one casualty was recovered onto 'Staines Whitfiled' with the assistance of the crew from Puffin. Both boats then recovered at the Sailing Club at 20:40 where the casualty was received by Burnham Coastguard and awaiting paramedics.
Launch 8 & Launch 9 4th May 2009	B795 & D664	Both lifeboats launched at 16:29 into force 4 winds, following reports of 4 people cut off by the tide on the south side of Brean Down. Once on scene, the Atlantic class 'Staines Whitfield' stood off whilst the D Class 'Puffin' landed to ascertain the situation. It transpired the people were safe & well, not in distress and were in fact climbers intent on scaling the Down. Once this was understood, Swansea Coastguard stood down the boats and the crews returned to Burnham for recovery at 17:20.
Launch 6 & Launch 7 30th April 2009	B795 & D664	Launched at 10:52 to assist a stranded fishing vessel aground at Berrow. Both 'Staines Whitfield' & 'Puffin' were tasked by Swansea Coastguard to assist the recovery at the top of the tide. Unfortunately the attempt was unsuccessful and the boats were stood down at mid-day. The vessel was eventually recovered by a land based vehicle.
Launch 5 18th April 2009	B795	Launched at 16:10 to assist recovery of two occupants in an inflatable dinghy that was in danger of being swept out to sea on an ebbing tide. Casualty was quickly located and both dinghy and occupants were brought back to Burnham jetty, where they were brought over the soft mud on the Softtrak tractor 'Kays Cart'.
Launch 4 17th March 2009	D664	Launched at 18:15 to assist recovery of an inflatable dinghy aground on a mud bank downstream of Combwich in the River Parrett. Dinghy was eventually reached at 20:35 on the incoming tide, when a tow line was passed to the occupants and the dinghy was haulded off of the mud bank. Dinghy was then escorted back to Combwich. Recovery at 20:55.
Launch 3 8th March 2009	B795	Launched at 16:15 to reports of a windsurfer in difficulties north of Stert Island. After a thorough search of the area, it was concluded that the reported casualty was in fact a navigation buoy. Recovery of the lifebaot was made at Burnham Sailing Club in the River Brue, as the sea state was too rough near the town jetty.
Launch 2 1st March 2009	D664	Burnham-on-Sea RNLI lifeboat Puffin was tasked at 02:57 hrs this morning, to assist in the search for a young teenager, up the River Parrett, towards Combwich. As it was almost the bottom of the tide, the RNLI volunteer crew, navigated the Parrett with difficulty, at times manoeuvring the lifeboat through slippery mud, towards Combwich, without a result. Eventually HM Coastguard control at Swansea diverted them to search towards Hinkley point. They proceeded back down river, and had travelled approximately two miles past No 1 buoy, when they were stood down at 04:53 hours, police having discovered the teenager at Hinkley point. The Lifeboat returned to Burnham beach for recovery back to the lifeboat station for eventual wash-down, and stowing away at 0556 hours.
Launch 1 11th February 2009	D664	The crew were paged at 00:40 GMT to launch the D class "Puffin" to assist a 18 year old male reported to be in difficulty in the sea by the town jetty. At their attendance on the beach, 3 crew members entered the water to assist the casualty's safe return to Burnham jetty and waiting emergency services, (Police, Paramedics and the Coastguard).