Two children drifting out to sea helped by Cullercoats Lifeboat crew

The lifeboat launched quickly from Cullercoats and headed North towards Whitley Bay. The crew located the children, who were fine, well and happy to keep paddling and planned to escort them back to the shore. After a few minutes of standing alongside the inflatable, the crew brought the children aboard the lifeboat to give them a helping hand back to shore and returned them to their family on the beach. The lifeboat then returned to station and was made ready for service once again.

If you are planning on having a dip in the sea this summer, please swim between the red and yellow flags. Our RNLI lifeguards are on duty between 10am and 6pm to help keep people safe and set up these flags as a 'safe swim zone.' Our lifeboat crew members are all volunteers and are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to come to the aid of anyone who needs it. If you get into trouble at the coast, please Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Our RNLI Lifesavers are always ready to help.

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.