TWO two SARA lifeboats were launched on Sunday afternoon (3rd April), to go to the aid of two jet skiers who had been were spotted stranded on a sand-bar in the Severn Estuary.

The men from Worcester had started from Beachley and ran aground on the infamous Bedouin Sands approximately one kilometre away from the shore. They were soon high and dry as the water drained away.

A passing police helicopter spotted them at around 3.15pm and alerted the coastguard who then tasked SARA.

“Actually launching the lifeboats was a bit difficult,” explained Mervyn Fleming, SARA’s Area Commander, “as one of the jet-skiers had parked his car and trailer causing an obstruction to getting the lifeboats out of the boathouse. There was a delay to the launch whilst crew removed the trailer.”

By the time the SARA lifeboats ‘Jim Hewitt’ and ‘Swift and Bold’ got to the Bedouins sand bar, some 14 kilometres down the coast, the tide had fallen to such a level, that one of the rescue crew had to swim to the sand-bar and then walk over a kilometre to reach the stranded men.

“The tidal currents in the estuary are ferocious, particularly when the tide is flooding back in; much faster than most other places in the world,” said Mr Fleming.

The lifeboat crew advised the stranded men, one of whom had suffered a minor head injury when his jet-ski had suddenly run aground at an estimated 60mph, of the dangers and advised that they should leave their jet-skis and board the lifeboats.

“The recommendation to these men to board the SARA lifeboats and get off the sands to safety was made in the full knowledge that their lives were at risk immediately upon the return of the waters or if they attempted to walk ashore through the mud-banks that border the estuary,” he added. The men, however, refused the advice and chose to remain.

After checking that the men had some water and food and were in no imminent danger the lifeboats had no option but to return to base, refuel and to plan a rescue later in the day.

There was a long wait for the return of sufficient water to recover the men and their craft by which time the sun had set, making the relocation more difficult.

It was nearly 7.30pm when SARA Lifeboat 3 ‘Swift and Bold’ found them, still high-and-dry, and stood by whilst the rising tide engulfed them. SARA then escorted them back to the lifeboat station at Beachley where they were safely brought ashore just before 9pm.

“The Severn Estuary has the second highest tidal rise and fall in the world creating fierce currents and whirlpools when in full flow. The sands, quick-sands and mud are notorious for claiming lives,” says Mr Fleming. “The very presence of a rescue station should stand as sufficient warning that this is not a safe place to play; unfortunately there will always be people who don’t have a clue. And people who won’t take advice.”