Withernsea lifeboat volunteers assist in multi-agency call

The volunteers were paged to launch by Humber Coastguard at 6.40pm on Thursday 31 January in sub zero temperatures, they worked alongside Withernsea Coastguard teams as well as Humberside Police in a search along the beach and promenade. Withernsea Inshore Lifeboat, the Henley Eight was tasked to search North of Withernsea to Waxholme and on towards Tunstall.

Aidan Gorman, a volunteer crewman at Withernsea, has been training since March 2018. Constantly learning and excelling himself, he is now a sea going crew member, and has achieved a childhood dream to be a part of the RNLI.

This was Aidan's first call out as a sea going crew member. His fellow volunteers complimented him on his first job, with Helmsman Sean Bell commenting: 'It was a great effort from Aidan, he asked all the right questions and listened well and his training reflected this.'

Aidan explained: 'In March 2018 I decided to walk into the Withernsea Lifeboat Station and enquired about joining as a volunteer crew member. I'm so glad I did as I am absolutely loving everything about being at Withernsea Lifeboat Station. I can't put into words how happy I am. All of this wouldn't have been possible without everybody at the station supporting me with the different modules of training and mainly understanding my Autism.'

Aidan was very pleased with being on his first call out, he said confidently: 'It is a fantastic feeling that I can be trusted to be involved in such an important role and help save people's lives, a huge responsibility that needs to be approached with 100% commitment and sensibility.'

Being tasked to assist with the Coastguard on a cold winter evening takes a lot of dedication and the whole crew worked well together assembling a crew of four with Darren Hickey taking the helm, also his first call out in his new role of Helmsman, having recently been assessed and passed out for the role, he commented: 'I was pleased with everyone's efforts tonight especially in such cold weather conditions.'

The search had a positive outcome and showed how well the organisations involved work closely and well together.

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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.

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