TWO people on board a small boat with engine failure were prevented from drifting into the Bristol Channel by Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) last Tuesday.

Station Chairman, Mervyn Fleming said: “The vessel had suffered partial engine failure on a falling tide in the lower part of the River Wye, and was at risk of being carried out on the falling tide.

“They managed to secure themselves at the pontoon in Chepstow, whilst the river level was still high. SARA Lifeboat 1 ‘The Jim Hewitt’ was launched and towed the vessel back to the lifeboat rescue station at Beachley, where it could be safely recovered.”

Boat owner, Matthew Fox said: “We’d like to give a big thank you to Severn Area Rescue Association for getting us back safe and sound.”

SARA depends entirely on donations to fund its operations. To donate go to www.justgiving.com/sararescue/donate.

•SARA is asking people not to set off red rocket fireworks near coastal areas in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night.

SARA’s Mervyn Fleming said: “Our volunteer crews take these reports very seriously and they could easily be mistaken for ship’s distress signals.

“Lifeboat 1, together with the smaller Lifeboat 3 ‘Swift and Bold’, was called out late on Thursday night (October 13) following a report from the coastguard of red ‘distress flares’ being sighted in the area of the motorway bridges over the Severn. The crews searched for three hours, with nothing being found, until stood down by the coastguard. It appeared to be a well intentioned false alarm this time and no-one was harmed.”