Luke Heritage Qualifies as Coxswain at Llandudno Lifeboat Station
Luke Heritage Qualifies as Coxswain at Llandudno Lifeboat Station
Lifeboats News Release
The crew at Llandudno Lifeboat Station is proud to announce that Luke Heritage has officially qualified as a coxswain, following a successful pass-out assessment on 30 June.
The role of coxswain carries significant responsibility, taking command of the station’s all-weather lifeboat during emergency callouts and training exercises. The role involves leading a crew of four or five volunteers and ensuring all operations are carried out efficiently, professionally, and above all, safely.
Luke’s assessment was overseen by Coastal Trainer Simon Bunting and included a rigorous one-hour theory exam on RNLI policies, procedures, and collision regulations. This was followed by a demanding three-hour practical session at sea, where Luke had to demonstrate his leadership and problem-solving skills under pressure, dealing with simulated faults and a wide range of challenging scenarios.
Luke, who joined the RNLI in 2009, holds a variety of roles at Llandudno Lifeboat Station, including Senior Station Technician, Afloat Mechanic, Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) Helm, Launch Vehicle Driver, ILB Head Launcher, Casualty Carer, and Press Officer. He can now add the position of coxswain to that list.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Capt. Marcus Elliott commented: ‘Luke has steadily taken on more responsibility over the years and continues to bring calm, confidence, and capability to everything he does. He’s a strong addition to the coxswain team, and we’re pleased to see him take on this new role.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
