History Burnham Area Rescue Boat

mud danger signs on bridgwater bay near mouth of river parrett necessary because fast, high-amplitude tides here have led drownings on extensive mud flats.

burnham-on-sea on shore of bristol channel , has long sandy beach, nearby mudflats , sandbanks have claimed several lives on years. @ low tide, large parts of area become mudflats 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) wide due tidal range of 15 metres (49 ft), second bay of fundy in eastern canada.

a lifeboat had been provided in town 1836, withdrawn in 1930 leaving coverage area weston-super-mare lifeboat.

a charity appeal established in 1992 members of local sailing community, equip town own inshore rescue boat. in june 1994, boathouse built in space of 3 days anneka rice , team of builders bbc tv series challenge anneka.

the site , technical support provided sedgemoor district council.

in june 2002, five-year-old holidaymaker, lelaina hall, drowned on mudflats @ berrow, north of town.

a new appeal launched in association association of search , rescue hovercraft (since renamed hovercraft search , rescue uk) , backing of western daily press. raised £115,000 buy rescue hovercraft, operate on mud , in shallow water unapproachable inshore rescue boat. arrived on 22 march 2003, , during first year of operation 50 people rescued.

barb asked royal national lifeboat institution take on inshore rescue boat work on coast, did on 23 december 2003. operates b-class (atlantic 75) rigid inflatable boat (rib) , d-class (ib1) inflatable boat burnham-on-sea lifeboat station short distance barb boathouse , complements hovercraft.