THE ‘force’ was strong again in Beachley on Sunday 26th June, for the annual SARA open day.  

With the better weather forecast for the morning, there were plenty of visitors exploring the station and climbing in and out of the lifeboats.  

The visitors included an Imperial detachment from the Gloucestershire Troopers. The SARA land search team taught visitors some of the rescue knots used in cliff rescue, and showed them how to abseil safely. Even the Stormtrooper was confident to put his life on the line.

A Fire and Rescue Service crew from Chepstow Fire Station was on hand to teach CPR and other essential skills, as well as a unit from Gwent Police, as a culmination of a week of working together for drowning awareness week.

The Coastguard Station was also open to visitors, with a display of their equipment.

SARA Executive Chairman Chris Cowley was on station, and presented Haydn and Virginia Lyall with their awards for 10 years of service each.

The highlight of the day was the SARA lifeboat display.  

The station’s largest lifeboat was launched and showed its turn of speed on the river.  

The crew then demonstrated rescuing a ‘man overboard’ floating in the river.  

He was given immediate first aid on board, then brought ashore by stretcher before being carried up to a waiting ‘ambulance’.

Station Chairman Merv Fleming said: “I was pleased that we could show so many people the different skills we have, and the close relationship we have with the other emergency services”.

The lifeboat was in action on Thursday last week, attending to a vessel which had lost power and run aground in the area between the two Severn Bridges.  

After ascertaining that everyone on board was safe, and waiting for the tide, the SARA crews recovered the boat to a mooring at St Pierre Pill.