August 17, 2005
Burnham Coastguard helps night-time dinghy sailor to safety
A 35 year-old man was helped to safety by Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard late on Wednesday, August 17th, after a member of the public reported seeing him try to launch a dinghy from the town’s beach in complete darkness.
Using flares to light up the beach, the Coastguard team followed the man’s footprints to the shoreline where, some 100 metres out into the mud, he was found in a small inflatable dinghy at the water’s edge.
The Coastguard team assisted the man to the safety of the town’s slipway where Burnham police and an ambulance were waiting.
Paramedics checked the man over before releasing him, having confirmed that he was unharmed.
Coastguard Officer Steve Bird said: “Fortunately, the tide was going out at the time or this man could have got into very serious difficulties.”
He also praised the member of the public who telephoned 999 to call emergency services to the scene.
RELATED LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard Web site
