Blackpool RNLI volunteers respond to two incidents in 90 minutes

The first call came just before 6pm when a member of the public helped a person from the sea near Central Pier. Our volunteers headed straight to the scene in the station Landrover and gave first aid before transporting the casualty to a waiting ambulance for further treatment.

At 7.30pm the volunteer lifeboat crew were about to head home for the evening when they were alerted to a second emergency near South Pier. Holyhead Coastguard had received a 999 call from a group who had been swimming in the sea and had lost sight of one of their party. Both of the station’s D class lifeboats launched and started to search the area alongside colleagues from the Coastguard and Police. After 30 minutes the missing person was found safe and well by the Police.

Blackpool RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, Keith Horrocks MBE said ‘when the weather is nice lots of people head to the beach but it’s important to remember that the sea is still very cold even when the sun is out. People swimming in the sea can experience cold water shock, a potential killer that causes them to gasp for breath, swim hard and thrash around. We would urge anyone who gets into difficulties in the sea to follow the advice of the RNLI Respect the Water campaign and ‘float to live.’ Floating for 60 – 90 seconds will let you regain control of your breathing and your survival chances will greatly increase. If you see someone else in difficulty in the sea dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

To learn more about the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign visit https://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water’

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Esther Lowe Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, RNLI Blackpool on 01253 508603 or 07917091948. Alternatively please contact Alison Levett, RNLI Public Relations Manager, North, on 07786 668912.

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.