Burnham-On-Sea’s lifeboat crews have rescued a motor boat after it lost power in the channel near Hinkley Point on Saturday afternoon (April 4th).
The two Burnham RNLI lifeboats Staines Whitfield and Puffin were launched at 2.30pm, at low tide.
The crews proceeded down a narrow channel in the River Parrett until they spotted the drifting vessel, a 24-ft long motor cruiser called Mustique, anchored in the estuary approximately 3 miles north off Hinkley Point power station.
On reaching the boat, it was confirmed that the three people onboard were unable to restart its engines following an extended fishing session.
RNLI helmsman and mechanic Nick Prout boarded the vessel and diagnosed the problem, helping to re-start the engines and sending the boat on its way back to Portishead.
Nick told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The motor boat was in good order and well equipped with radio, lifejackets and other safety equipment. They were just unlucky, but able to seek assistance notifying the Coastguard via their radio. We were happy to render assistance.”
The lifeboats returned to Burnham-On-Sea where the recently-extended bog mats next to the jetty proved invaluable as an effective but muddy recovery route.
