Several people were rescued after getting into difficulty on beaches in the area over the weekend.
Burnham-On-Sea’s BARB rescue hovercraft was called out several times alongside local Coastguards to rescue people in Weston and at Sand Bay.
It comes as the hot weather and Weston Air Show attracted large numbers of visitors onto local beaches.
Just minutes after the end of Sunday’s Weston Air Show at 5pm, BARB’s hovercraft crew was tasked with heading to Sand Bay to reports of two people – a father and son – in distress in the mud, waving their hands.
“They were in direct contact with the Coastguard operations team and due to their distance from the shore, the Coastguard requested the BARB hovercraft attend,” said a spokesman.
“BARB’s hovercraft flew two Weston Coastguard mud technicians out to the casualties, who were safely removed and placed in the hovercraft. The hovercraft flew the casualties back to the beach where they were checked over by paramedics.”
“The hovercraft then flew back out to collect the mud technicians, while Weston RNLI were on the tide line, providing safety cover. Clevedon Coastguards and SWASFT also attended in a successful multi-agency incident.”
Earlier on Sunday, at 5.30pm, Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards and BARB were also called out to search for a missing vulnerable person on Brean beach.
“After speaking to the first informant it was discovered that the missing person had been missing for a while. The man was found safely after an hour at a local caravan park, having made contact with a family member,” said a spokesman.
On Saturday evening, BARB’s hovercraft crew was tasked with helping Coastguards reach three people reported to be difficulty in mud on Weston beach at 7pm. “The woman, man and a baby were spotted in deep mud. Two were flown back to the beach on BARB’s hovercraft and the third walked back.”
During the weekend, BARB’s crews were invited to the Weston Air Show to provide safety cover at the busy, popular two-day event, working closely with the Beach Rangers, Coastguards, RNLI and event organisers during the weekend.
Several people were assisted from the mud to the safety of the beach and BARB’s crews also helped in the search for several missing children.
“Great team working took place to keep this a safe and enjoyable event for all,” added the spokesman.
