Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) crews crews were paged to support Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service on August 17 at 8pm with the rescue of 14 cows that had become stuck in the river Severn. Due to the nature of the incident SARA .tewkesbury and Severn Area Rescue Association - Wyre Forest Station were also requested.

Once on scene, the crews launched two boats and were able to support the rescue efforts to ensure all cows and personnel were safely out of the river.

On August 21 at 1.30pm, Sharpness boat teams were requested to launch to search for and rescue a horse that had become stuck in the River Severn mud. Once again they requested Severn Area Rescue Association - Tewkesbury and were deployed alongside Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service with their specialist capabilities for rescuing animals of this size.

The teams launched two boats and quickly located the horse, partially hidden under some trees. A suitable location was found to attempt a rescue and the team successfully got the horse ashore, under the guidance of a vet. The horse was then checked over and handed back to its owners.

A spokesman for the rescue organisation said:” It’s been a busy week, but we love helping animals in distress, especially with a positive conclusion!”

SARA is a volunteer search and rescue organisation which supports the emergency services. The 200 SARA volunteers operate Inshore Lifeboats and conduct Search and Rescue operations on land and water, covering a wide area around the River Severn. They are called out over 100 times every year.

SARA operates seven Lifeboat Search and Rescue stations, mainly along the length of the Severn. These are at Newport, Beachley (Chepstow), Sharpness, Tewkesbury, Upton, Wyre Forest (Kidderminster) and Cotswolds (Cirencester). In addition, a base at South Gloucester currently operates as a satellite of Sharpness Lifeboat Station.