Saving Lives at Sea: Series 7 Episode 6

Thursday 6 October 2022

Find out more about the stories and stations featured in series 7 episode 6 of Saving Lives at Sea, with rescues from Trevone Beach, Burnham-on-Sea, Eastbourne, and Blyth.

This week you’re welcome onboard with Bundoran RNLI Helm Killian O’Kelly. You might recognise Killian from episode 4! Join him as he reacts to footage from some of our roughest RNLI rescues and tells us more about what the lifesavers might’ve been thinking at the time.

Trevone Beach: Joining forces

In Cornwall, lifeguards from Trevone and Harlyn Beach worked together to rescue a surfer caught in a rip current. With 6ft waves breaking onto the rip, and gusting winds, it wasn’t an easy rescue.

Want to learn more about the rescue? Lifeguards Alfie and Seb share their story.

'6ft waves just pin you down'

Burnham-on-Sea: Mistaken identity

Next, we saw Burnham-on-Sea volunteers investigate a report of a hot air balloon falling into the water. The crew searched the shoreline in their Atlantic 85 lifeboat before realising the caller had mistaken a hot air balloon for a 3ft helium birthday balloon attached to a plastic breadbasket!

Burnham RNLI Helm Stuart looks into the camera, holding up a deflated helium balloon and a plastic basket — Burnham RNLI Helm Stuart holds up the recovered helium balloon, which, at a distance, had been mistaken for a hot air balloon.

The Atlantic 85 is a key player in the RNLI fleet - it's powered by two 115hp engines and can self-right if it capsizes.

Learn more about the Atlantic 85 lifeboat

Eastbourne: Up in smoke

Then we saw Eastbourne RNLI launch after receiving a Mayday distress call. A serious fire had broken out onboard a motor cruiser. When the RNLI volunteers arrived, the two people onboard had already been rescued by a nearby fishing boat and their motor cruiser was well alight. Knowing there were several gas cylinders onboard, which could explode, the crew had to keep clear of the burning yacht and protect other boats in the area.

A motor cruiser is on fire, with a large plume of grey smoke billowing into the sky, seen from the vantage point of a lifeboat — Eastbourne RNLI launch after a fire breaks out on a motor cruiser

Over on Hayley Island, volunteers saved three men trapped on a yacht in severe weather,

Here's the story

Blyth: Doggy paddle

And finally, we saw Blyth RNLI volunteers launch their D class lifeboat to rescue Shaddah, a black Labrador. It didn’t take long for the crew to spot the pup, pull him onto the lifeboat and reunite him with his relieved owner.

Don't put yourself in danger while trying to rescue a family pet. Get advice on keeping your dog safe at the coast.

Get safety tips

Test your knowledge

When alerted to a boat on fire, which class of all-weather lifeboat did we see the crew from Eastbourne Lifeboat Station launch?

Trent Tamar

Photoshoot for new TV series 'Saving Lives at Sea'

Not quite...

Eastbourne RNLI launched their Tamar class lifeboat after receiving a call for a serious fire on a motor cruiser.

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Well done!

Eastbourne RNLI launched their Tamar class lifeboat after receiving a call for a serious fire on a motor cruiser.

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