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Published:
October
10,
2009
Rescue
hovercraft called to jet skier stranded
on Weston mudflats
One
of Burnham-On-Sea's rescue hovercrafts was called to Weston on
Saturday afternoon (October 10th) after Coastguards reported a
jet skier in difficulty on the mudflats.
The
man, from South Wales, had skied across the Bristol Channel from
Porthcawl to watch Weston's annual motorbike beach races.
 But
he misjudged the falling tide and became stranded on the mudflats
a quarter of a mile from the shore, prompting Coastguards to request
the help of Burnham-based rescue charity BARB.
The
Light of Elizabeth hovercraft was taken by road to Weston and
launched from the beach next to the Grand Pier at 4pm.
BARB
Deputy Operations Manager Graham Hallsworth said: "The jet
skier had been stuck in the mud for several minutes after trying
unsuccessfully to get his jet ski back into the sea. Fortunately,
he was released unhurt."
 "Once
his safety was confirmed, BARB flew two Weston Coastguard officers
out to the stranded jet ski to investigate whether it could be
pulled to the sea so the man could make his return journey to
Wales, but this was not possible."
The
jet skier had to wait several hours for the tide to come in on
Saturday evening when he was escorted back across the channel
by a Weston lifeboat. A second jet skier, who also travelled across
the channel from Wales, made his way safely back earlier in the
day.
The
hovercraft flying past Weston's Grand Pier during Saturday's incident
The
stranded jet ski is seen here in the background on Weston beach
Weston
Coastguards co-ordinated the incident on the town's beach
Two
Coastguards were flown onto the mudflats onboard The Light Of
Elizabeth
The
jet skier back on the safety of Weston beach on Saturday afternoon
RELATED
LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea Hovercraft Web site
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