One of Burnham-On-Sea’s rescue hovercrafts was called to Weston on Saturday afternoon (October 10th) after Coastguards reported a jet skier in difficulty on the mudflats.
The man, from South Wales, had skied across the Bristol Channel from Porthcawl to watch Weston’s annual motorbike beach races.
But he misjudged the falling tide and became stranded on the mudflats a quarter of a mile from the shore, prompting Coastguards to request the help of Burnham-based rescue charity BARB.
The Light of Elizabeth hovercraft was taken by road to Weston and launched from the beach next to the Grand Pier at 4pm.
BARB Deputy Operations Manager Graham Hallsworth said: “The jet skier had been stuck in the mud for several minutes after trying unsuccessfully to get his jet ski back into the sea. Fortunately, he was released unhurt.”
“Once his safety was confirmed, BARB flew two Weston Coastguard officers out to the stranded jet ski to investigate whether it could be pulled to the sea so the man could make his return journey to Wales, but this was not possible.”
The jet skier had to wait several hours for the tide to come in on Saturday evening when he was escorted back across the channel by a Weston lifeboat. A second jet skier, who also travelled across the channel from Wales, made his way safely back earlier in the day.
The hovercraft flying past Weston’s Grand Pier during Saturday’s incident
The stranded jet ski is seen here in the background on Weston beach
Weston Coastguards co-ordinated the incident on the town’s beach
Two Coastguards were flown onto the mudflats onboard The Light Of Elizabeth
The jet skier back on the safety of Weston beach on Saturday afternoon
RELATED LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea Hovercraft Web site
