As I am sure many of you will have heard, your local independent Lifeboat met with an unfortunate incident on Thursday 28th August. The Coastguard responded to a Mayday call from the Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat by tasking 3 lifeboats plus the Search and Rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor. A large car Transporter Ship, Goliath Leader, also assisted in the search. The boat had sustained structural damage and lost all power to its engines but the three crew and the boat were recovered safely. 

Within 3 days a loan boat from SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) was donated and it is now on station. We are truly grateful for this as we are in the busiest time of year. 

We would like to thank all the fellow crew from the RNLI at Weston Super Mare, SARA at Beachley, HM Coastguard at Swansea, the RAF Search and Rescue helicopter from Chivenor in Devon, and the Transporter Ship, Goliath Leader piloted by John Freegard of Bristol Pilot's Partnership for assisting us so quickly and professionally. Without their assistance we would not have been able to recover the Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat.