Published:
July 13, 2008 Coastguards
called to help yachtsman after he runs aground at Berrow
Two
lifeboats and a Burnham rescue hovercraft were launched on Saturday
evening (July 12th) amid concern for the safety of a man onboard
a yacht that had run aground on the mudflats at Berrow.
Coastguards were alerted when the 23ft yacht, called
Reds, ran aground on the falling tide, leaving a 40-year-old man
stranded onboard.
Burnham's
Light Of Elizabeth hovercraft, operated by rescue charity BARB,
was launched [see video] to help Coastguards to check on
the man's condition and assess whether he would be able to safely
refloat his vessel on the next high tide overnight.
The
yachtsman was understood to be sailing from Cardiff to Norfolk
when he went aground on Saturday at approximately 5pm.
Coastguard
Officer Steve Bird told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "Strong onshore
winds blew the yacht aground on Saturday evening during rough
sea conditions and there was concern for his safety. The hovercraft
was once again very useful in helping us deal with the incident
out on the mudflats."
Two
RNLI lifeboats from Burnham were re-launched at 11.15pm on Saturday
evening to help the yachtsman launch the vessel on the incoming
tide.
When
the lifeboats reached the casualty, however, the owner was still
having difficulties so the crew of the lifeboat 'Forever Forward
Denise' attached a towing line to the vessel, and put a crewmember
on board to help.
The 'Staines Whitfield' lifeboat was then able to refloat the
yacht, and tow it to the safety of Burnham Sailing Club pontoons.
Both
lifeboats were recovered at 1.20am on Sunday morning, and the
volunteer crewmembers finally left the lifeboat station at 2.35am.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Ricky Holmes said: "The crew
performed extremely well with a text book shout situation in the
dark with moderate breeze, choppy sea and intermittent rain showers."
Two
RNLI lifeboats from Burnham were re-launched at 11.15pm on Saturday
evening to help the yachtsman launch the vessel on the incoming
tide.
