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.

• Monmouth (again) 31-05-21

  At 9.30pm Beachley and Newport water rescue teams & boats were again called to Monmouth, to reports of a body in the water.
  Along with the Fire Service this was investigated, but concluded to be a false alarm with good intent, and we were stood down at 10.30pm.

  31st May 2021

  31st May 2021

• Severn at Lydney 31-05-21

  Shortly before 9pm the SARA Sharpness and Beachley lifeboats were called out by the Coastguard, on reports of missing / overdue kayakers somewhere below Lydney.
  They were located safe after about 20 minutes, when they arrived at the Beachley Slipway

  31st May 2021

  31st May 2021

• Monmouth 31-05-21

  Just after 5.30pm, Beachley and Newport water rescue teams, including a boat, were scrambled to head to the Monmouth area, where Gwent Police were concerned for a missing child.
  She was reported found safe not long after 6 and we were stood down as arriving on scene.

  31st May 2021

  31st May 2021

• May Hill 31-05-21

  We were called at just after 1am to assist Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search for a missing person in the Mayhill area. Teams from Beachley, Wyre Forest and Tewkesbury stations, and a dog team from SARDA South Wales searched until the missing person was thankfully found well but cold at 6am by Gloucestershire Police a short distance outside our search area.
  Many of the SARA members that responded had been involved in the Wild Wye SwimRun and the callout near Devil’s Pulpit that day.

  31st May 2021

  31st May 2021

• Shorncliff, Tintern 30-05-21

  On Sunday afternoon at 15.25 (after many of the crew had spent the morning supporting the Wild Wye SwimRun) we were asked to help South West Ambulance Service (SWAST) extract an injured person who had fallen near Devil’s Pulpit.
  Our land team quickly responded and assembled in a remote forest area below Devil’s Pulpit to assist SWAST carry the injured person on a stretcher down to a forest track. This was across steep wooded slopes with moss covered loose rock.
  SARA training and team work ensured we were able to carry out a swift and safe recovery before transferring the injured person to an ambulance, and we were stood down at 17.10.

  30th May 2021

  30th May 2021

• Ombersley 22 to 24-05-21

  The Team from SARA Wyre Forest Station were out on Saturday night (22 May) and all day Sunday (23 May) to assist West Mercia Police with a missing person search near Ombersley. Alongside colleagues from West Mercia Search & Rescue and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, a variety of different search assets were deployed.
  The crews were just beginning to assemble at the RV on Monday 24 May, along with members of SARA Tewkesbury, when the missing lady was found safe and well.

  24th May 2021

  24th May 2021

• Stourbridge 21-05-21

  On Friday 21 May, the crew of Wyre Forest Station were tasked by West Midlands Police to assist with an ongoing missing person investigation in the Stourbridge area.
  During our search, a body was located by the crew, and after further investigation by the police, we were able to carry out a dignified recovery in challenging terrain.
  The thoughts of all the SARA Team are with the gentleman’s family and friends.

  21st May 2021

  21st May 2021

• Hereford 19-05-21

  Crew from Wyre Forest and Beachley Stations were calledby Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service to assist in an ongoing search in Hereford. The crew deployed rescue boat SARA 26 ‘Stuart Frost’ at around 1300 and did an extensive search of a stretch of the River Wye below Hereford. One of the SARA Newport members acting as the search base and helping to launch & recover the boat
  With nothing found at this time, the crew were stood down around 1600.

  19th May 2021

  19th May 2021

• Tintern 07-05-21

  SARA Lifeboat 1 was launched mid-afternoon, to the River Wye following a report of an unmanned canoe floating upstream, close to Tintern Abbey.

  Close to Tintern the crew encountered a canoe with two occupants paddling downstream. A conversation with the occupants confirmed their canoe had been left on the river bank whilst shopping in Tintern and they’d returned to find it had drifted away. Fortunately they had been able to self recover before SARA 1 arrived.

  The occupants were given a lift back to Chepstow pontoon, and SARA 1 recovered at Beachley slipway at 17.50.

  7th May 2021

  7th May 2021

• Hills Flats, River Severn 29-04-21

  We were called out by the Coastguard on Thursday morning to assist with 2 yachts aground off Hills Flats. Sharpness’ SARA Lifeboat 2 was launched immediately, quickly followed by SARA Lifeboat 4 to ensure we had cover for shallow water working.
  Upon arriving on scene, there were 2 boats high and dry with the crew of each boat safe and well. Due to the falling tide, nothing could be done at that time to refloat the vessels, so a plan was made to refloat at the next high tide.
  Given the evening tide was approx 0.25m lower, we knew this was going to be a tough recovery. We enlisted the help of SARA Beachley and SARA Lifeboat 1 to assist on scene, as we had two vessels to refloat in a short space of time.
  We re-launched later that evening and SARA 2, SARA 4 and SARA 1 met up. A plan was devised and as the incoming tide came in, SARA 1 was able to free the first boat and tow her to safe water. The second boat was in shallower location and a tricky position so timing and execution were vital to not cause damage to the vessel. As high tide hit, it was clear there was not enough water to refloat. SARA 1 was able to reposition the vessel and with the help of some crew members shifting the weight of the vessel, she was released and towed to safe water.
  A great outcome and a great display of inter station teamwork! Thanks to all involved

  29th Apr 2021

  29th Apr 2021