The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) was alerted to an emergency on the River Wye in Chepstow last night, Thur Dec 12, and asked to assist following reports that a man had fallen from the A48 Bridge, Chepstow.

SARA launched a lifeboat crew from Beachley lifeboat station. The situation was complicated by congested roads in the Chepstow area due to a collision on the A48 just to the north of the town which meant that some crew had difficulty in getting to the station.

A spokesman for the emergency service said: ”We launched Lifeboats SARA 1 at around 1740, arriving on scene around 1745. SARA 3 launched shortly afterwards. SARA Newport brought SARA 14 and a crew to Beachley in case they were needed to launch.

“Our lifeboat crews, working alongside lifeboats from RNLI Portishead and our sister station Severn Area Rescue Association - Newport Lifeboat Station carried out a search on the river.

“We located the person in the river and took them in Lifeboat Sara 1 to the emergency services on shore. Sadly, they later confirmed that the person had died. Our lifeboat crews returned to the station at around 1915.”