Published:
February 23, 2009 In
photos: Burnham Coastguards and RAF in joint mud rescue exercise
Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguards are preparing for another busy summer of rescues,
and on Sunday (February 22nd) took part in an airborne training
exercise with the Royal Air Force next to Brean Down.
The
RAF's 169 rescue helicopter flew in to Uphill from Chivenor in
Devon to work with Coastguards from Burnham and Weston, practising
various rescue manoeuvres from the treacherous mudflats along
the River Axe estuary, as pictured here.
Burnham Coastguard Station Officer Steve Bird told Burnham-On-Sea.com:
"Training sessions like this provide the team with very useful
first-hand experience of how to carry out rescues in conjunction
with the RAF and other agencies."
The
mudflats next to Brean Down have been the scene of many rescues
over the years, due in part to the fast-flowing waters of the
River Axe and the false illusion that it is easy to cross there
between Brean and Weston.
