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January
6, 2006
New
second hovercraft for Burnham-On-Sea rescue group
Burnham-On-Sea
is to get a second rescue hovercraft as the group that runs the
service expands its operations to include river rescues.
The
new smaller hovercraft will act as a back-up to Burnham's existing
hovercraft, The Spirit Of Lelaina, and will enable several rescues
to be performed at the same time during the busy summer months.
 BARB,
the charity that runs the hovercraft, has been working to raise
funds to buy a second hovercraft to help to further boost safety
in the Burnham area.
The
new four-seater vessel will complement the five-seater Spirit
of Lelaina and will cost around £11,000. It is expected
to be in use by the Easter.
Because
of its compact size, the new craft is ideal for training and will
also be able to rescue people trapped in rivers where the banks
can often be too steep for the larger hovercraft to negotiate.
Alan
Miller, chairman of BARB, the group that runs Burnham's hovercraft,
explained: "The deep mud along the banks of the Parrett and
other rivers in the region have sadly claimed several victims
over the years."
"The
mud can often be just as dangerous as that along our coastlines
- hence the need for our rescue service and the second craft."
The
hovercraft group currently has a second three-seater craft on
loan while it awaits the arrival of the new permanent vessel in
the late Spring.
RELATED
LINKS:
Official
BARB Web site home page
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