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Published:
April 12, 2008
Photo
special: Royal Navy bomb disposal team detonate Stert bomb
A
huge 700kg World War II bomb was successfully exploded by a Royal
Navy bomb disposal team on Stert Island on Saturday morning (April
12th).
Technical
problems had led to the planned detonation of the bomb being postponed
last night, but Burnham's hovercraft crew flew members of the
Navy team out to Stert at first
light on Saturday and the bomb was successfully detonated
from a nearby boat at 11.42am.
 A
huge plume of sea water gushed into the air, followed by a bang
and a low rumble which could be heard around Bridgwater Bay. Watch
video here.
Large
crowds lined Burnham's Esplanade to watch the detonation on Saturday
morning.
The
Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft, operated by Burnham charity BARB,
took two members of the Royal Navy team out to the GC Sea Mine
at 5am as they made final preparations for the detonation.
Burnham
RNLI lifeboats also assisted with the work on Saturday, taking
personnel from the Plymouth-based Navy team out to Stert Island,
where the bomb had been spotted earlier in the week by local fisherman
Dave Saunders.
A
one mile exclusion zone in operation around Stert Island to prevent
boats putting themselves in any danger was immediately lifted.
Large
crowds of spectators lined Burnham seafront to watch the explosion
11.42am:
A huge plume of sea water shot into the air, followed by a bang
and a low rumble that could be heard around Bridgwater Bay
Burnham
RNLI launched both its lifeboats to assist the Royal Navy team
with their work during Saturday morning
Burnham's
Spirit Of Lelaina hovercraft took the bomb disposal team out to
Stert at low tide at 5am so that final preparations could be made
Spectators
lined the seafront to watch the unusual spectacle unfold
Strong
team-working between various emergency services - including Burnham
Coastguards, BARB, the RNLI, Royal Navy and Avon and Somerset
Police - made the incident a success.
RELATED
LINKS:
Video
coverage of the bomb disposal team at work
Planned
detonation of bomb is postponed
Lifeboats
called out to help bomb disposal team
First
photo of Stert Island bomb up close
Bomb
found on Stert Island - hovercrafts help with work
Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguard Web site
Burnham-On-Sea
RNLI Web site
Burnham-On-Sea
Hovercraft Web site
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