BURNHAM coastguards have come to the aid of a boy who suffered a dislocated knee in a ‘moment of misfortune’ at Brean Beach.

The boy was injured after he was knocked over by his family's dog while they were playing on the beach on Wednesday, August 3.

The ambulance service requested support from the Burnham Coastguard Rescue Team as the youngster needed to be moved before paramedics could drive him to hospital. 

The coastguards were called to Brean for the medi-vac (medical evacuation) operation at 4.21pm.

A Burnham Coastguards spokesperson said: “A family had a moment of misfortune while enjoying the hot summer holidays on Brean Beach this week.

“As they were playing, the fur baby of the group accidentally collided with one of the children and wiped him out.

“As the young lad hit the sand his knee dislocated, leaving him in a lot of pain.”

The coastguards have praised the boy for his bravery during the painful incident.

 

“When we arrived, he was receiving pain relief from the paramedics on scene and he was soon ready to be transported the few hundred yards up the beach by stretcher,” the spokesperson added. 

“Members of our team were also joined by the RNLI lifeguard who was on duty and gave reassurance to the family and assisted us in carrying the brave young boy to the ambulance for further onward treatment.

“While being carried he did spot the ice cream van and ask if he could have one. 

“We have since heard that he is fine and will be spending a while on crutches and with a knee brace.

“We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he got his ice cream for being so brave.”

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: Coastguards and lifeguards worked together to help a man who fell while flying his kite at Berrow Beach.Coastguards and lifeguards worked together to help a man who fell while flying his kite at Berrow Beach. (Image: Adrian and Janet Quantock)

Burnham coastguards and lifeguards were also called to the scene of an injured kite flyer at Berrow Beach on Friday, August 5. 

The man had fallen while flying his kite and was “unable to move properly”, leading to passers-by raising the alarm with the beach warden and doing their best to help him. 

A spokesperson said: “We were tasked to a person who had fallen while enjoying flying his kite on the beach.

“With ambulances being under extreme pressure at the moment there was no arrival time, so it was down to assets on the ground to keep him as comfortable as possible until the ambulance could attend.

“The RNLI lifeguard who was patrolling Brean Beach was diverted to help out and administered some pain-relieving gas until the ambulance arrived to scoop him up and whisk him off to the local hospital for further treatment.

“Once again, we teamed up alongside the lifeguards to great effect for a positive outcome.

“Hopefully, the man is back on his feet and enjoying flying his kite on the beach in no time.”

If you get into trouble or see someone who needs help at sea or on the coastline, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.