New Deputy Launching Authority for Troon Lifeboat

After the recent retirement of Charlie Duncan as Deputy Launching Authority (DLA) at Troon lifeboat station, and following a recent advertisement for new volunteers to this role, one of the successful applicants was David Walker.

After seeing advert on Facebook site, David from Troon, was encouraged to join by friends who are crew members after he read the advert on stations Facebook page.

David, who works in retail and joined the station in March, has always had an interest in the RNLI and the lifesaving work they undertake. His family have always sailed and they have known the RNLI were available should they need assistance.

Following his initial training at the station from fellow DLA Gary Pringle and former Coxswain Ian Johnson, he will now deputise for the Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) Jim Redmond and will be the first point of contact for the Coastguard in the event of a request to launch the all weather or inshore lifeboats.

David was recently issued with his RNLI pager the Lifeboat Operations Manager and has already been on-call. His first callout as launching authority was to an incident at Ardrossan on the 27 June and was woken with a startle by the loud bleep of his RNLI pager. David said ‘Within minutes of the Coastguard contacting me, the lifeboat crew had been alerted and were heading to the scene. On that callout 5 people were rescued from Horse Island by the lifeboat crew so I will certainly remember my first launch.’

RNLI media contacts

Andrew Limond, RNLI Troon Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, 01292 314414, [email protected]

Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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.

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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.