Stranded boats on River Usk towed to safety (From South Wales Argus)

Stranded boats on River Usk in Newport towed to safety by Severn Area Rescue

12:35pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in News By Emma Mackintosh

TWO stranded vessels have been saved from the River Usk in the past 12 hours.

Severn Area Rescue Association (Sara) were called out in the early hours of this morning to assist South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to retrieve a drifting boat, which was going out with the tide on the River Usk in Newport.

Mervyn Fleming, Sara area commander, said they were called at 12.45am after the fire service boat, launched under the George Street bridge, proved to be too small.

Sara were able to tow the unoccupied vessel safely to Uskmouth by 3.30am.

This morning, at 8.50am, a separate boat had broken away from its mooring and was drifting in with the tide. Sara were able to intercept the vessel by the railway bridge in St Julian's, Newport, and towed it to Isca Boat Club where, with their help, it was secured by midday.