LIFEBOAT crews were on hand to rescue a small boat that was at risk of being carried out into the Bristol Channel this week.

SARA Lifeboat crews were in action on the Wye in Chepstow last Tuesday (11th October), following a callout by the Coastguard in the early evening. A small boat, with two people on board had suffered partial engine failure on a falling tide in the lower part of the River Wye, and was at risk of being carried out into the Bristol Channel.

The crew managed to secure themselves at the pontoon in Chepstow whilst the river level was still high. SARA Lifeboat 1 ‘The Jim Hewitt’ was launched and towed the vessel back to the lifeboat rescue station at Beachley, where it could be safety recovered, with everyone safe and well.

Boat owner Matthew Fox said: “A big thank you to Severn Area Rescue Association for getting us back safe and sound.”

SARA Lifeboat 1, together with the smaller Lifeboat 3 ‘Swift and Bold’, was called out again late on Thursday (13th October) night following a report from the Coastguard of red ‘distress flares’ being sighted in the area of the motorway bridges over the Severn. The crews searched for three hours, with nothing being found, until stood down by the Coastguard. Station Chairman Mervyn Fleming commented: “As always, our volunteer crews take these reports very seriously, on this occasion it appears to be a well intentioned false alarm and no-one was harmed.

“With Halloween and 5th November celebrations in the next few weeks we would implore people not to set off red rocket fireworks near coastal areas where they could easily be mistaken for ship’s distress signals.”

SARA depends completely on donations to fund its operations. To donate to SARA, visit www.justgiving.com/sara-rescue/donate