Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat crew came to the rescue of TV’s Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud during Minehead’s annual Raft Race at the weekend.
Burnham’s Staines Whitfield lifeboat was helping to provide safety cover at the event on Sunday, which raises funds for the RNLI, when the incident unfolded.
“The crews moved to help one raft and discovered Grand Designs’ presenter Kevin McCloud on board. It seems that his TV crew had entered a shore-built craft, were having trouble in the stiff breeze and unfortunately proceeding backwards,” said a spokesman.
“The lifeboat crew assisted by towing Kevin’s crew for much of the course, finally letting them paddle the last leg to the finish, in an effort to save dignity.”
The event was also filmed for eventual inclusion in a future TV programme.
RNLI helmsman Jason Coombes added: “We were only to glad to help out with this annual event in aid of the RNLI.”
“Due to sea conditions on the day a number of rafts needed assistance to complete the course, this included the raft built and rowed by Channel 4’s Kevin McCloud and his team, which we towed for over half of the course distance.”
Pictured: Top, the raft being towed by the lifeboat (pic Kate Barber)
