A major search operation is ongoing in Burnham-On-Sea today (Monday, October 30th) for a missing man who entered the sea to try and save a woman and a dog.
Coastguards, Police, RNLI lifeboats and BARB Search & Rescue are all involved in today’s search operation.
They carried out an eight-hour search for the man on Sunday evening who had been seen entering the water near Burnham jetty at around 4pm.
Eyewitnesses said the man entered the sea to try and save a woman and her dog in the sea next to the jetty. The woman was helped to safety but the man remained in the water.
Coastguard rescue teams from Burnham and Weston and two coastguard helicopters have been involved in the search.
The helicopters used heat-seeking equipment to search the water, including in the River Brue near Burnham Sailing Club and up the estuary towards Highbridge.
Lifeboats searched the estuary while the crews also conducted extensive shoreline searches.
A Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard responded to reports of a person in difficulty in the water in Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday 29th October. Alerted at around 4pm, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Burnham and Weston-Super-Mare, the Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent and lifeboats from Weston-Super-Mare were sent to the scene.”
An RNLI spokesperson said: “Both Burnham RNLI lifeboats were launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 29 October) on the request of the Coastguard to assist in the search for a missing man, the Burnham volunteers were joined by RNLI volunteers from Weston-super-Mare who launched their D and Atlantic class lifeboats at around 5.30pm to join the search. All RNLI assets were stood down around 11pm.”
“At 12pm today (Monday 30 October) the Burnham-On-Sea RNLI D class inshore lifeboat was launched with a volunteer crew to assist other agencies in a shoreline search of the area.”
“BARB’s volunteers are working closely with our colleagues from HM Coastguard, RNLI and other organisations in the search for a man who went missing on Sunday after entering the sea. BARB’s volunteers are using our rescue hovercraft and other equipment during the operation alongside other services. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”
