Incidents

We are tasked by the emergency services, including HM Coastguaard, Fire & Rescue, Police and the Ambulance Services. Our teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Below are the callouts that we have attended.

• River Severn Beachley 27-12-24

  The SARA Beachley lifeboat crew were called out shortly before 11pm, to support a police operation on the M48 Severn Bridge. Crew assembled at the station and prepared to launch SARA Lifeboat 3. Fortunately the situation was safely resolved by the police before we needed to launch.

  27th Dec 2024

  27th Dec 2024

• River Ebbw 14-12-24

  We searched again in the River Ebbw in the area of Risca; a continuation of the searches at the end of November. By Saturday 14 December the water level had reduced further. 3 specialist teams were deployed, with colleagues from SARA Sharpness and Beachley Stations, and in consultation with the Police.

  Sadly during this search a body was found.

  Many thanks to all involved with this protracted search. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the person concerned, at this very difficult time.

  14th Dec 2024

  14th Dec 2024

• River Wye Chepstow 12-12-24

  Around 1710 we were alerted to a situation on the River Wye in Chepstow; the Coastguard Agency tasked us to assist shortly thereafter, as a man had fallen from the A48 Bridge, Chepstow.

  The situation was complicated by congested roads in the Chepstow area due to a collision on the A48 just to the north of the town which meant that some crew had difficulty in getting to the station.
  We launched lifeboat SARA 1 at around 1740, arriving on scene around 1745. SARA 3 launched shortly afterwards. Our sister station SARA Newport brought SARA Lifeboat 14 and a crew to Beachley in case they were needed to launch.

  Our crews, working with RNLI Portishead and Coastguard Helicopter R187 carried out a search on the river. We located the person in the river and took them in SARA 1 to the emergency services on shore. Sadly, they later confirmed that the person had died.

  Our lifeboat crews returned to the station at around 1915.

  Our thoughts are with the family of the person involved, and our thanks go to the other services with whom we worked.

  12th Dec 2024

  12th Dec 2024

• River Severn Lydney 12-12-24

  At 1543hrs, the were called out to launch and locate a sailing yacht in the vicinity of Lydney Docks, following reports by a member of public that someone was in difficulty aboard.
  SARA Lifeboats 2 and 4 were launched from SARA Sharpness, and made best speed to the location, where a yacht was located attached to a mooring with no persons on board.

  A search of the vessel and surrounding area was conducted, but with nothing found, and no evidence suggesting anyone had been on board the vessel, the crew were stood down.
  It is believed to have been a call with good intent.

  12th Dec 2024

  12th Dec 2024

• Kenilworth 07-12-24

  We were asked to assist Warwickshire Search and Rescue, West Mercia Search & Rescue, Northamptonshire Search and Rescue and Warwickshire Police to help search 3 large areas in Kenilworth in the hope of finding a missing man. A land search team from SARA Wyre Forest Station attended.

  The day’s search was eventually stood down, with nothing having been found.

  7th Dec 2024

  7th Dec 2024

• Newport 05-12-24

  Around 2145 we had a request from Gwent Police to assist officers on Town Bridge, Newport who had concerns for a male’s welfare.
  SARA Lifeboat 14 requested to launch and provide safety cover, but was stood down en route as the incident had been resolved by police.

  5th Dec 2024

  5th Dec 2024

• River Severn Beachley 03-12-24

  We were paged this morning at 4:30 am to conduct a search of the Severn in the area of the M48 Severn Bridge. Both SARA Beachley Lifeboats 1 and 3 were launched and commenced a search.

  Sister station SARA Sharpness also came to readiness and then launched their SARA Lifeboats 2 and 4. In addition, RNLI Portishead also launched their lifeboat and joined the search, along with the Coastguard and Police helicopters and both Chepstow and Portishead Coastguard Rescue Teams [which need tagging].

  Searches continued until around 9 am when we were stood down, with nothing having been found. Our thoughts are with the family concerned.

  3rd Dec 2024

  3rd Dec 2024

• Newport River Usk 01-12-24

  Request from HM Coastguard at 1430 to undertake another search at low water for a sunken vessel which could cause a navigation hazard to other vessels. SARA lifeboat was 14 brought to readiness with crew searching shoreside.
  Nothing found, stood down 1730

  1st Dec 2024

  1st Dec 2024

• Newport River Usk 30-11-24

  Request from HM Coastguard at 1445 to assist a sinking vessel, last seen in the River Usk at Newport. In parallel with the ongoing search in the Ebbw, SARA lifeboat 14 launched and made way to last known position. Nothing located, search carried out upstream with nothing found. We were stood down 1545
  Vessel believed to be sub service.

  30th Nov 2024

  30th Nov 2024

• Newport River Ebbw 28 to 30-11-24

  In the evening of Thurs 28 Nov we were requested by Gwent Police to search tidal section of the River Ebbw using SARA lifeboat 14, and to search deep pools within the non tidal section of the river using our swift water rescue team. Both units stood down prior to midnight with nothing found.
  On Fri 29 Nov we conducted a continuation search of the River Ebbw, deploying swiftwater rescue teams and inflatable rafts. Stood down with nothing found. Beachley station crew also assisted during this tasking.
  Again on Sat 30 Nov, a further continuation search of the River Ebbw, deploying swiftwater rescue teams and inflatable rafts. Stood down with nothing found. Beachley station crew also assisted during this tasking.

  30th Nov 2024

  30th Nov 2024