Published: August 20, 2009
Burnham-On-Sea lifeboats launched to help grounded fishing boat

Both Burnham-On-Sea's lifeboats were launched on Thursday afternoon (August 20th) to help re-float a grounded 20ft fishing boat on Gore Sands in the Bristol Channel.

Burnham Lifeboat Operations manager Ricky Holmes had spotted the boat from Burnham and had concerns about the potentially hazardous location of the craft, given the prevailing force five winds.

Given that appeared to be a risk of the vessel being swamped by the incoming tide, Swansea Coastguards were alerted.

"Swansea contacted the craft by radio and having agreed the dangerous location of the craft decided a launch was necessary at 3pm," a lifeboat spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

The crew of the Staines Whitfield worked together with the crew of Puffin, helmed by newly-qualified helmsman Stuart Lacey, who placed a line on the boat and towed it from the sands into safe water.

Stuart told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "He was firmly grounded on a lee shore, with his stern facing the waves and in danger of being swamped. I consider he would not have managed to get off without help. We turned him around, towed him to safe water and sent him safely on his way."

RELATED LINKS:

Lifeboats website for Burnham-On-Sea