Severn Area Rescue Association

31/05/2026

We’ve been on BBC Gloucestershire local radio this week, talking about Water Safety.

Most of us love being on or in the water, but we also know it can be dangerous. Understanding the hazards of open water is really important, so please respect the water, and enjoy it safely.

27/05/2026

Last week we published our Annual Report & Accounts for 2025. As well as pages of ££ numbers, it includes a comprehensive summary of our year and photos showing the breadth of what our volunteers got up to, so please have a read!

This report, along with previous annual reports and published newsletters, are available on our website at:

View and download SARA’s annual reports, board meeting minutes, and official governance documents. Stay updated with our latest organizational progress and transparency reports.

27/05/2026

Lifeboat callout yesterday for SARA Beachley...

SARA Beachley Lifeboat Crew were called out around 1820 yesterday, to a canoe drifting down the Wye past The Boat Inn, Chepstow.

SAAR Lifeboat 3 was launched, located and towed the canoe back to Beachley where it was handed over to HM Coastguard Chepstow.

At this time its ownership is unknown, and anyone with information is asked to contact HM Coastguard:
📞 01646 690909

Many thanks to all who responded.

26/05/2026

Amongst many other activities this weekend, four of our trainee search dogs and their handlers, plus the dog training team from SARA attended a very hot four-day training weekend near Thetford in Norfolk. All the dogs made good progress in their training journey to become operational for search and rescue.

Fortunately a small river ran through the training area. Regular swims (mainly by the dogs) and working only in the shade of trees made it possible to keep the dogs cool - the temperature meant that training revolved around the challenges of keeping the dogs comfortable. Link to a video of one happy search dog in the comments!

Many thanks to National Search and Rescue Dog Association Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue for a great venue and looking after everyone so well, and to National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA) for their support.

25/05/2026

Two lifeboat callouts back-to-back for SARA Beachley yesterday…

The SARA lifeboat crew at Beachley were kept busy yesterday afternoon. SARA Lifeboat 3 was launched when we were tasked by HM Coastguard to attend a 17ft yacht with engine failure that had anchored in the Wye. There were 4 persons on board and we were pleased to see they were all safe and well and all wearing life jackets. The engine was fixed again when we arrived so we escorted the vessel to St Pierre Pill.
On our return we were tasked by Gwent Police to attend a vulnerable person at Chepstow Castle. Thankfully the situation was resolved by the police.
We were stood down shortly afterwards and returned to station.

22/05/2026

Enjoy the water this hot weekend, safely….

With the forecast showing temperatures rising over the bank holiday weekend please take care around water

18/05/2026

Callouts Friday / Saturday. We were called around 1930 on Friday evening by Gloucestershire Constabulary, to assist with a missing person search. SARA Sharpness were asked to conduct search of the canal west of the dock, and launched Rescue Boats 12 and 15. At that time land search teams from other stations were stood by, but not deployed. The search on Friday was called off about 2300, with nothing having been found.

Land search teams from Tewkesbury, Beachley and Cotswolds were then deployed on Saturday morning, from around 0830. They searched an area of parkland in Gloucester City Centre through until around 1400, and were again stood down with nothing having been found.

We were delighted to learn this morning from the Police that the missing person had been found safe.

Many thanks to all who responded.

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

17/05/2026

Exciting times for SARA Newport and their SARA Lifeboat 14…

13/05/2026

This is set to be a fantastic effort by some of the SARA Cotswolds team, raising funds for SARA. Please support them if you can!