Volunteer lifeboat crews stand ready to answer the call, day or night, rain or shine.

As we come to the end of this year's lifeguarding season, we wanted to give a huge 'thank you' to our lifeguards for their excellent service and dedication to keeping every one safe. 

The Severn is our biggest, most robust all-weather lifeboat. RNLI volunteers from the wild Atlantic to the chilly North Sea have relied on her to rescue thousands of people over more than two decades. And this year we celebrate the 25th birthday of this remarkable lifesaving craft.

In wild winds and stormy seas, volunteer crews depend on their lifeboats to keep them safe while out on a rescue – even if it turns upside down. Many lifeboats in the RNLI’s fleet can bring themselves the right way up if the powerful elements cause them to capsize. Let’s find out how.