Morecambe’s Lifeboat Volunteers Saved 5 Lives In 2018
Figures just released by the RNLI’s headquarters in Poole reveal that the volunteers of Morecambe’s RNLI lifeboat were called out 57 times during 2018.
Responding to various incidents including people reported missing, cut off by the tide and stuck in mud; they also went to the aid of a stranded porpoise. The Morecambe crew are credited with saving 5 lives during the year, more than any of the Northwest’s other 10 lifeboat stations, and assisting 19 people.
The charity only claims that a life has been ‘saved’ after an operational committee, in the RNLI’s headquarters in Poole, have interrogated the circumstances of the service and concluded that the casualty would have died without the intervention of the lifeboat crew. If the evidence suggests the casualty might have survived, or possibly rescued by other means, then they are deemed to have been ‘rescued’ or ‘assisted’.
The lifeboat station hosted educational visits for over 300 visitors from schools, youth groups and other organisations during the year. Crew members also delivered formal talks about their work to over 450 people in the community as far away as Ulverston and Staveley; as well as meeting members of the public during their Lifeboat Open Day and the Carnival and Heritage weekends.
The figures are published ahead of the launch of the charity’s 2019 Mayday Appeal; which aims to raise £700,000 to fund the crucial kit volunteer crews rely on, like lifejackets, helmets and the RNLI’s iconic yellow wellies. Personal protective equipment for Morecambe’s volunteers costs over £1800 per person.
Anyone who wants to get involved should visit RNLI.org/Mayday to register for a free Mayday pack. The pack provides a host of fundraising ideas, such as encouraging friends and colleagues to plan a wear-yellow fundraiser, getting sponsored to run, walk or cycle, cooking up some yellow-themed bakes to sell or even getting together to lift the weight of a 32 tonne Tamar class lifeboat!
The charity is also encouraging people to show support on their social media, joining the conversation using the hashtag #MaydayEveryDay, or by donating online or buying a yellow welly pin badge.
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.