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All in a day's work for the volunteer crew at Blyth RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

There was no time for exercise training for the volunteer crew today as while both lifeboats had launched to undertake routine crew training, events meant that plans were going to change.

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Whilst all the crew weren't afloat they could see what was unfolding from the window of the lifeboat station. A small vessel on the seaward sea of the pier at Blyth near to the two wind turbines could be seen to have engine difficulties with what appeared to be smoke coming from the back of the boat. 

This subsequently turned out to be steam that had burnt one of the crew on board the boat and they radioed for emergency assistance.

This led to both Blyth inshore lifeboats being requested by the Coastguard to attend and provide assistance.
 
The D class lifeboat arrived on scene first and having located the stricken vessel established that one of the crew required medical treatment and that a lifeboat crew member would board the vessel to administer first aid.

Whilst medical assistance was being provided the second of Blyth's Lifeboats arrived on scene and it was decided that they would take the injured crew member back to Blyth Lifeboat Station where it was requested an ambulance would be waiting.
 
The B class lifeboat then proceed into Blyth harbour to the lifeboat station to hand the casualty over to the awaiting ambulance from North East Ambulance Service where his burns to his arms and face could be treated.
 
The B Class then returned to the stricken vessel where it was agreed that the vessel would be towed back to Blyth Harbour.

It was also discovered that there was a second vessel that had mechanical difficulties and another boat in the area towed that boat also back into Blyth harbour whilst being escorted by the D class lifeboat.
 
Both boats were met by the coastguard team from Blyth.

Once the stricken vessels were safely tied up alongside both of Blyth's Lifeboats returned to the station and made ready for the next service call.

This came sooner than expected as no sooner had the last of the crew left the lifeboat station then they were responding to their pagers and to launch the D Class lifeboat to a report of persons in trouble in an inflatable dinghy in the Blyth bay area.

As the lifeboat with three volunteer crewman on board proceeded up the River Blyth towards the harbour entrance they were stood down by the coastguard as the persons had been recovered safely to the beach and their assistance​ was no longer required.
 
The crew returned to station where the boat was made ready for service.
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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.

About the author

Robin Palmer
Deputy Press Officer and Volunteer Crewman, RNLI Blyth Lifeboat Station

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