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July 9, 2004
Speedboat helped to safety in River Parrett

Coastguards requested the assistance of Burnham-On-Sea RNLI after a speedboat was reported to be in difficulties in the River Parrett, approximately one mile past Combwich.

Burnham's main lifeboat, the Staines Whitfield, was paged at 13:39 and maroons were fired shortly afterwards. The boat was launched at 13:50 from Burnham Beach (pictured right).

The crew reached the casualty, a 15ft speedboat with four occupants, and found it to be helpless with faulty engine controls and drifting with the falling tide.

The speedboat was towed safely back to its berth at Highbridge Boat Yard at 14:40 and the Staines Whitfield was stood down at 15:05 for recovery back to the lifeboat station.

Winds were approximately force two, gusting three.

Lifeboat helmsman Nick Prout said: "It is important to keep equipment well maintained, but mechanical failure can happen to anybody. We were pleased to be able to help."

Also see:

Interactive 360 degree images of the River Parrett estuary and Bridgwater Bay

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Please contact the Burnham-On-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Martin Cox or telephone Burnham-On-Sea RNLI's Lifeboat Administration Officer, Clare Rundle, on 01278 781123.