Severn Area Rescue Association

28/08/2026

A short lifeboat callout last night, just at the end of normal Thursday training…

The SARA lifeboat crew were called out last night, just at the end of Thursday training. The Coastguard asked us to investigate a report of a yacht drifting under the M4 Prince of Wales bridge. SARA Lifeboat 1 had just been put away after training so she was quickly launched, at around 2045.

The crew made way to the downstream end of the possible area and searched back up through the area on the Welsh side of the Estuary. Despite the good visibility there was nothing to be seen and nothing on the radar, so the crew were stood down just after 2130 and returned back to Beachley to recover.

25/08/2026

Straight after the South Wales Fire support, last week an unusual pair of animal rescue callouts in the Severn…

23/08/2026

Great work by the Tewkesbury team!

22/08/2026

The team from SARA Sharpness are at the Gloucester South Fire Station Open Day today…

22/08/2026

Go Tewkesbury! Please support this amazing effort if you can.

Severn Area Rescue Association - Tewkesbury

19/08/2026

It's been super hot, but it will be winter again in a few months. At SARA we have been trying out the new Agile insulation and carry system from Thermarmour, which they have loaned us. This one is in tactical olive green but they assure us that an orange version is coming out soon.

We didn't keep our 'casualty' in it for long - especially since we had put him in a THERMARMOUR Emergency Blanket as well - but we really like it. It's got carry handles and a padded base, rolls up small and it's got lots of coloured zip openings on the sides so you can access the relevant part of the casualty easily.

We're sure it will get some operational use when the weather cools down; watch this space! If you invite Thermarmour as a collaborator, they'd be keen to hear from you.

18/08/2026

The team at SARA Tewkesbury are doing their big swim again this year, it’s on Saturday! Please support them if you can!

Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) Tewkesbury will swim widths of the River Avon aiming to collectively complete the equivalent distance of the English Channel (34 km) with 24 Hrs. The Even will be based at The Fleet Inn on 22 Aug 26.

16/08/2026

For the past 72 hours, SARA has provided the first response to all inland water incidents for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The Fire Service had requested our support, along with that of fire services from across England and of other volunteer organisations, as they were hugely stretched dealing with the extensive and persistent wildfires.

This has been a magnificent cross-station effort, in which boat teams from SARA stations at Newport, Beachley, Sharpness and Tewkesbury, supported by colleagues from SARA Cotswolds and Upton, have been based at Cardiff Gate Fire Station. SARA has had 1, often 2, boat teams available on site from 1700 on Thursday through until being stood down at 1900 this (Sunday) evening.

This has released firefighters to deal with the many wildfire incidents across South Wales, whilst maintaining the statutory requirement to respond to rescue calls. During this time the teams responded reports of one person in the water in Cardiff and another in Newport; both were resolved with everyone safe.

We are proud to stand up for the communities of South Wales, and we will remain on standby now that our formal tasking has concluded

Mountain Rescue England and Wales
National Independent Lifeboat Association
Severn Area Rescue Association - Newport Lifeboat Station
Severn Area Rescue Association - Sharpness Lifeboat Station
Severn Area Rescue Association - Beachley
Severn Area Rescue Association - Tewkesbury
Severn Area Rescue Association - Upton
SARA Cotswolds

16/08/2026

Our first of two lifeboat callouts this afternoon, whilst our support to South Wales Fire Service is still ongoing…

The SARA Beachley lifeboat crew were called out this afternoon just after 1330, to reports of kayakers in difficulty in the River Wye at Chepstow. We launched SARA Lifeboat 7, and located the kayakers at the mouth of the River Wye, making their way round to Beachley on the outgoing tide.

The lifeboat crew checked the river up as far as the Wye Bridge but there were no other kayakers; we assume this was a false alarm with good intentions.

Stock image.

16/08/2026

Last weekend, SARA was requested to support Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire with a search in the Burford area. Teams from SARA Stations at Sharpness, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds deployed on Saturday, and Tewkesbury and Cotswolds again on Sunday. Our search was stood down on Sunday evening with nothing having been found, and the operation ongoing. Sunday's search was our fifth of the weekend.

We were sad to learn that the body of the missing person was found yesterday. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the person concerned.

Many thanks to all who attended.

Severn Area Rescue Association - Tewkesbury
Severn Area Rescue Association - Sharpness Lifeboat Station
SARA Cotswolds