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Burnham
RNLI Home Page > Burnham RNLI News
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Published:
April 13, 2008
Busy
weekend for Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat crews
Burnham
lifeboat station had a busy weekend, carrying out seven launches
between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon while liaising
with Coastguards, BARB, and the Navy Bomb Squad to help render
safe a 750 kg World War II parachute mine on Stert Island.
 The
device was safely exploded
at
11:42am on Saturday with a 200ft high water spout being visible
around Bridgwater Bay. [Watch
video]
During the bomb disposal operations, the RNLI was tasked by Coastguards
to keep water craft clear of the mandatory one mile exclusion
zone and the lifeboats also assisted the bomb disposal squad team
in reaching the mine.
Seperately,
both Burnham's lifeboats were launched at 11am on Sunday to participate
in the annual Bristol Channel helicopter Exercise (pictured at
the top of this page).
Altogether
over the weekend the Burnham volunteer crews experienced over
20 operational boat hours with the consequential extra launching,
washing down, cleaning and preparation time.
 Of
the parachute mine, Navy Warrant Officer Rickard said: “We
are grateful for the help from the RNLI, Coastguard and BARB,
and the benefit of their local knowledge, professionalism and
assistance. The RNLI played a pivotal role in rendering the device
safe." He added: "The mine was extremely dangerous."
Burnham
Lifeboat Operations Manager Ricky Holmes said: "Our volunteer
boat and shore crew members deserve credit for giving up their
weekend to assist with these activities. Each launch requires
more than an hour cleaning down and preparation time, so their
dedication is much appreciated."
Our
photos show a
helicopter from RAF Chivenor performing personnel transfers between
lifeboats during a training exercise on Sunday (top); Burnham’s
D class lifeboat 'Forever Forward Denise' ferrying bomb disposal
team members out to Stert Island; and The 'Daisy
Aitkin' performing a similar task in Force 4 winds.
RELATED
LINKS:
 Official
Burnham-On-Sea RNLI website
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