Five call-outs The heat is on as lifeboat crews are kept busy
HOT weather meant RNLI crews along the North Somerset coast had a busy weekend - with five callouts in just 48 hours.
People flocked to enjoy the coast over the weekend as temperatures rose into the mid-twenties.
Weston-super-Mare RNLI was first called out on Friday evening when the coastguard raised the alert to help two men trying to launch an inflatable dinghy from Anchor Head.
Crews arrived and advised the men that had they launched they would probably have lost control of their dinghy due to the strong tides.
Lifeboat crews were called again on Saturday afternoon to the aid of swimmers in difficulties in Marine Lake in the seaside town.
Later that evening RNLI crews received reports of three people and a dog cut off by the tide on rocks south of Brean Down .
The family of four - plus the dog - were enjoying the evening at Brean Down and parked their car on the beach.
Three of them took the dog for a walk along the base of Brean Down, leaving one young woman with the car - but without the keys.
When they found themselves cut off by the incoming tide, they scrambled onto the rocks at the base of Brean Down to stay out of the water.
Without the keys, the hire car the family had hired was unable to be moved, becoming quickly swamped by the tide.
The three people were helped across the rocks by RNLI crews before being taken to safety at Brean slipway.
Crews were out again on Sunday morning to reports of a missing male possibly in the water near Sand Point.
However before the lifeboat could be launched, the male was found and the crews were stood down.
Crews were then called again on Sunday evening by Burnham Coastguard to reports of five people on the rocks south of Brean Down who it appeared had become cut off by the tide.
Both lifeboats launched, but on reaching the people they turned out to be experienced rock climbers who had the correct equipment and were in no danger.
While the lifeboats were returning to the station they were tasked to search Sand Bay as an inflatable dinghy had been sighted there.
They searched but did not find anything. It then transpired that the inflatable had been towed into Knightstone Harbour. Both boats returned to base and were prepared for the next call.
Weston-super-Mare RNLI operations manager Mike Buckland said: “It was a busy weekend and some people helped.
“We always prefer to go and investigate anything which worries people.
“It does not matter if it turns out not to be a problem but let the coastguard know if ever you are worried about someone in or near the sea.”
Anyone who spots someone in trouble in the water should call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
» Family rescued: Page 9
Let the coastguard know if ever you are worried about someone in or near the sea RNLI’s Mike Buckland