Torbay RNLI comes to the aid of 69 people at sea and launches 113 times in 2025
The volunteer crews' actions directly saved the lives of two casualties, with the lifeboats launching over twice a week on average during 2025.
As a leading UK holiday destination, over a third of Torbay's shouts took place at the peak of the holiday season in July and August. With Torbay boasting 20 beaches and coves, two marinas and England’s busiest fishing port, Torbay RNLI’s Inshore and All-Weather lifeboats responded to shouts to across the bay, helping kayakers, paddleboarders, swimmers, coastal walkers as well as sailors and their vessels further out at sea.
Over the full year, the crew assembled a further 19 times before being stood down shortly before launch. To maintain the crew’s readiness 24/7, 365 days a year, training also formed a big part of the station’s work, with the lifeboat crews and their onshore launch authority colleagues taking part in 122 training exercises across the year.
2026 is continuing the busy trend, with 15 shouts already recorded in the first three months of the year. And a new intake of volunteers joining the lifeboat crew has seen over 30 training exercises taking place since January.
Torbay RNLI's newly-expanded Water Safety team has also been preparing for the busy holiday season ahead. With a remit to share potentially life-saving water safety guidance with users of our beaches and waters, the team of volunteers - all with expertise as sailors, swimmers or kayakers themselves - visits beaches, harbours, marinas as well as local schools and groups throughout the year.
Later in the year, StormFest 160, a day of events in-and-around Torbay, will celebrate this year’s 160th anniversary of the lifeboat station's founding following the Great Storm of 1866.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.