Burnham RNLI Home Page > Burnham RNLI Launch Archive

June 22, 2005
Lifeboat launched to assist Brean beach warden

Thomas Jefferson, the Burnham D class lifeboat, was launched on June 22 at 14:35 - as pictured on the right - after a Brean beach warden reported seeing what appeared to be a group of people at the water’s edge, in the mud at Brean.

The Coastguard was alerted, and in turn it called out the RNLI to liaise from the seaward side - along with the Burnham hovercraft to take the Coastguard's Mud Rescue Team to the scene.

At extreme low water, on what was almost the highest rise and fall of the year, this could have been a desperate situation, but, on further investigation, the people proved to be a flock of birds, and the lifeboat was recalled.

RNLI helmsman Nick Prout said: "On this occasion there was no problem. If members of the public have been there, they would have been in danger, and our volunteer crew members would have been ready to help."

RELATED LINKS:

Hovercraft launched after flock of birds sparks call-out drama

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