With kit still wet from the Monmouth floods and with a team deployed on a missing person search in the Gloucester area, we were called out to a search in the Lower River Wye.There had been a report of a person entering the water below Monmouth.  South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were already searching; we put a spotter at Brockweir Bridge and launched Rescue 5 at Bigsweir Bridge.  

The Coastguard helicopter was soon on scene at Brockweir, and then searched upstream.

With nothing found, and the swollen river full of floating debris, we were stood down after about an hour.Many thanks to all who responded.

Around 2045, the water crew were tasked to assess 2 cars in King’s Norton that were stranded in flood water to ensure that there were no occupants inside. Shortly before arriving on scene, the crew were stood down as the vehicles had been confirmed as empty.

From 1pm on Friday afternoon and throughout the night, teams from SARA supported the Storm Claudia flood response effort in Abergavenny, Skenfrith and Monmouth, and the surrounding areas.  

This was a real multi-agency collaborative effort, led by Fire, where we worked alongside and directly with colleagues from Fire, Police, HM Coastguard, Ambulance and Longtown Mountain Rescue Team.SARA members from our stations at Beachley, Sharpness, Tewkesbury and Newport attended, sometimes for more than one stint.  

Together, our agencies have carried out rescues and evacuations, and have undertaken welfare checks on residents impacted by the rising water. As a team, we are devastated to see the effects of this flooding on our communities.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

SARA Newport were tasked by Gwent Police to assist at a water rescue incident near Cwmbran during Thursday evening which continued into the early hours of Friday morning. We deployed our swift water rescue teams alongside other emergency service partners.  Due to the hazardous water conditions, we also requested the assistance of a HM Coastguard rescue helicopter and the immediate launch of a SARA lifeboat from SARA Beachley

On Friday morning, we were tasked by Gloucestershire Constabulary to assist with the search for a high-risk missing person in the Gloucester area. Teams from SARA Tewkesbury, Cotswolds, and Beachley, as well as search dogs from the Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales, conducted area searches until dusk, when the search was suspended. Whilst preparing to deploy again on Saturday morning, we were informed by the police that, thankfully, the missing person had been located safely. This search was the first deployment of our new Starlink satellite data communications setup. We would like to thank Premier Inn Little Witcombe for their hospitality during the day.

Around 3pm, Gloucestershire Police requested the launch of our inland boat teams, to support an incident at Westgate Bridge, Gloucester. Both SARA 18 and SARA 12 were launched.Working closely, once again, with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service boat crew, we conducted a thorough multi-boat search of the area. Crews stood down at 17:45hrs with nothing found.

We were called out around 7pm  to support Gloucestershire Constabulary with a search for a high risk missing person in the Gloucester area.  Team members from Sharpness, Beachley, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds attended, and commenced searching areas of land and water – the latter both by water search teams on foot and by crew in two boats.Soon after we started, the missing lady was found by one of the SARA teams, safe and on land.  She was looked after by two of our RRMTs, together with police officers, and then handed over to the ambulance service.  Many thanks to all who responded.