Cullercoats RNLI launch to swimmers in difficulty
The charity’s inshore lifeboat launched at 5.59pm after responding to a report from the Coastguard of people struggling in the water near the South Pier.
The lifeboat quickly reached the scene and found that one of the teenagers had been thrown a life ring by his friends and had managed to get back to the pier. However, the second boy was struggling to make it back to safety owing to the high water and two metre swell.
Cullercoats RNLI’s volunteer crew helped the teenager into the lifeboat and took him back to the lifeboat house for treatment.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.