Burnham-On-Sea’s MP experienced at first hand how lifeboat crews rescue people on Sunday (August 14th).
Tessa Munt was herself retrieved by the town’s lifeboat crews when she plunged from a yacht into the waters of Bridgwater Bay, as pictured here.
But there was no need for any concern because it was all part of a special training exercise organised by Burnham RNLI.
The MP visited the town’s lifeboat station in Pier Street, then donned a drysuit and lifejacket before boarding a yacht owned by Burnham RNLI Chairman Graham Wills.
After helming the yacht for a short time in Bridgwater Bay, she transferred to the Staines Whitefield lifeboat where Helmsmen Glenn Cutter and Scott Rundle gave her a practical demonstration of the lifeboat’s capabilities.
She then took part in a ‘man overboard’ exercise over half a mile from the shore where she plunged into the water.
After floating for several minutes, she ‘rescued’ by the crew of the D-Class lifeboat Puffin and later returned safely to shore.
Tessa told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am delighted that I have been allowed to do this. I felt perfectly safe and excited to see how it works from the other side. You never know when you might need a lifeboat.”
