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March 5, 2005
Burnham lifeboats take part in Bristol Channel rescue exercise

Burnham's lifeboats joined other stations in taking part in a major exercise in the middle of the Bristol Channel on Saturday March 5.

The four-hour long exercise to the north of Flat Holme involved over six lifeboats from Barry, Weston, Burnham, Portishead and Penarth plus an RAF Sea King helicopter from A flight 22 squadron, RMB Chivenor - as shown in our photographs here.

The crew members performed a number of rescue exercises, including searches for 'casualties' in the sea, while the helicopter was also used to take casualties to the shore and also airlift them onto lifeboats.

During this exercise, no casualties were taken to shore, but the Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat crew did render assistance to a private inflatable craft that was taking on water, towing it to the safety of moorings at Weston-super-mare. The event was co-ordinated by members of Weston-super-mare RNLI lifeboat station.

Members of the public were able to observe some of the proceedings, albeit from a distance, from Brean Down and Weston seafront.

Glen Cutter, a senior Burnham-On-Sea helmsman said: "The exercise appeared to run successfully and had been a useful rehearsal for future helicopter rescues."

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