Published: June 16, 2010
School children experience lifeboat rescue during Burnham visit

Visiting schoolchildren from Woodside Community School in Dudley had a first-hand experience of a real lifeboat shout during their visit to Burnham-On-Sea marine rescue services today (Wednesday, June 16th).

The children were enjoying an educational tour on sea safety when the lifeboat crew's pagers sprang into life at 11.17am.

Within minutes, the children were able to see the lifeboat volunteers launch the Staines Whitfield, Burnham's Atlantic class lifeboat.

A rubber dinghy had been spotted off Brean beach drifting with the outgoing tide. The lifeboat crew successfully located the dinghy about 100 metres from the shore and they assisted the exhausted young adult onboard back onto the beach.

Lifeboat Helmsman Nick Prout told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The dinghy had been reported as being 500 metres off the shoreline, and he had made some progress back to the beach."

He added: "The fresh northerly wind was pushing the dinghy at some speed along the shore and he was around 100 metres off when we spotted him. He appeared to be exhausted and was at risk of being swept out to sea with the ebbing tide. These are definitely not suitable conditions for using small inflatable boats!"

Education volunteer Mary Summers added: "It was exciting. The pagers went off, and everybody sprung into action."