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Around 20 volunteers make up the BARB team

BURNHAM Area Rescue Boat has been operating for more than 15 years, patrolling the coastline alongside the Burnham Coastguard and RNLI.

Weekly News reporter James Beal went down to Burnham seafront to find out more about the charity - and experience its equipment first hand.

IT has been a busy few months for the crews at BARB.

Members have had to push their skills to the limit during a series of rescues - transporting the coastguard crews to help rescue men, women and children from cars, quad bikes and even fire engines stuck in the mud.

Mark Newman, chairman of BARB, told the Weekly News: "For some reason it has been very dangerous in the last few months. We have had nine rescues since the beginning of the year - it has been the busiest start to any year in BARB's history.

"I think people don't read the signs, see a sandy surface and think they can walk across.

"It's a testament to the crew - we have 20 volunteers who all work very hard."

The rescue charity, in operation since the summer of 1992, has made more than 200 rescues - and has helped and rescued around 250 people.

BARB now has two operational hovercrafts, The Spirit of Lelaina and The Light of Elizabeth, which help transport rescue teams out to trapped people and vehicles on the mudflats and an inshore rescue boat to get to casualties on the waters.

The BARB crew work with the RNLI crew in Burnham and the coastguard - who describe the charity as a "godsend" - to provide a dedicated service protecting the beaches on the coastline.

Mark Newman said: "We go out with the coastguard when we get a call from the Maritime Regional Control Centre in Swansea.

"A couple of us will go out with the mud rescue team or the cliff rescue team and make sure they get to the casualty.

"We are all first aid trained - and we have to be because the mud constricts the blood flow - it is very dangerous.

"The main thing is that we get to the casualty and make sure everyone gets back safely - we look on it as a glorified taxi service."

Whatever the light-hearted term those inside the organisation use to describe the service they do, there can be no doubting the importance of their job.

In 2002, before BARB had the use of hovercrafts on the beaches around Burnham, five-year-old Lelaina Hall died after becoming trapped in the mud on Berrow beach.

Mark Newman said: "The hovercrafts would have undoubtedly saved the life of Lelaina. We just pray nothing like that happens again."

As an independent charity, BARB has to raise around £30,000-a-year to keep running the vital service.

Its funding comes purely from donations and collections, so the charity is keen to hear from those wishing to contribute.

If you are interested in raising money or donating to BARB, call chairman Mark Newman on 07834-635797.

10:10am Saturday 10th May 2008

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