Growing up in Sheffield, I was really scared of water – even swimming pools. But when I got an events job with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) based at the charity’s HQ in Poole, organising naming ceremonies and boathouse openings all over the UK and Ireland, I found the lifeboat crews so inspiring.
So, in 2015, I jumped at the chance to join the volunteer crew at Poole
Lifeboat Station – one of the RNLI’s busiest stations. As a 24/7 emergency service, RNLI crews are ready to drop everything, day or night, to help people
in peril at sea. The pager can go off anytime: you could be asleep, in the shower or on the loo. I was even paged during a first date once!
When you hear the beep, the initial adrenaline rush is quickly replaced with the practicalities of getting to the station and mentally preparing for what might be
expected of you. Getting there quickly and safely is crucial, especially if there’s a person in the water – then, every second counts.
All crew develop new routines when they are on call: bedtime means
leaving out clothes; going to the supermarket means reverse parking near the exit. Everyone remembers their first shout. Mine was mid-afternoon in April – a call-out to a stricken yacht with two people on board. The conditions that day were really strange. We left the station in brilliant sunshine but when we reached the yacht, as one of the crew worked on freeing the rope which had got tangled around the yacht’s propeller, the clouds became more foreboding. Towing the vessel back into Poole Harbour, a squally winter shower blew up, followed by lightning and driving sleet. We got everyone back safely, but it goes to show how quickly conditions at sea can change – even in a reasonably sheltered area.
Sadly, not all incidents have a positive outcome. One of my saddest shouts was a night call-out to a person in the water off Bournemouth Pier. The inshore and all-weather lifeboat were completing search patterns; there were blue lights all along the shore; and a helicopter was searching overhead. It was very dark but one crew member spotted a glint in the water, which turned out to be the belt
buckle of a man who was unconscious. We got him onto the lifeboat and commenced CPR. The crew were incredible, working as a team to do everything possible to preserve this man’s life. Then the helicopter winchman came on deck and we cleared the area, ready for the man to be winched off the lifeboat. It was a difficult shout, made harder because we found out the next day that, sadly, the man had not survived.
Although the training prepares you for these challenging shouts, it is still emotionally tough. After all, every person we go out to is a family member or a friend of someone. Everyone at the lifeboat station was really supportive of each other and to me, a newer crew member. What came through was the teamwork, and it made me reflect on how precious life is.
The training we receive is first-class. Earlier this year, we were on a rough water exercise when we got tasked to respond to reports of an object in the water. The waves were confused and above average for the time of year. Several waves rolled through the boat and we really felt the power of the sea. It was pretty hairy, but I had total faith that the lifeboat, our crew kit and our training would keep us safe. Thankfully, when we reached the location, everything was fine, so we returned back to the station.
I am incredibly proud to work and volunteer for the RNLI. I meet so many inspiring people: volunteers, staff and supporters. In my day job, it’s particularly humbling to meet donors’ families. I love hearing the donors’ incredible stories, and celebrating the effort that crew, their families and the wider community put in to supporting their lifeboat station.
This summer has seemed busier than ever for RNLI lifeboats and lifeguards, with the heatwave seeing people flock to the coast. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the RNLI is here to keep people safe, ready to respond whenever we are needed, day or night. It feels very special to be part
of this fantastic charity.
For safety advice and to see how you could support the RNLI, visit RNLI.org