RNLI receives £10,000 donation to help divers stay safe

The donation was presented to the RNLI at Tower Lifeboat Station on the River Thames this week. It will help fund the charity’s mobile Diver Health Kiosks, which will be going to dive shops and dive centres all around the UK and Ireland, as well as dive shows. The kiosks guide users through a quick questionnaire about their lifestyle, and gives a free confidential health statement.

The RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, hopes that by providing the kiosks, experienced divers will make their cardiac health a priority and will do the necessary checks to ensure they are fit to dive.

Nick Fecher, Community Safety Manager for the RNLI, said:

‘As a charity, we depend on donations and we’re so grateful for the generosity of Fred. Olsen and their guests.

‘A medical emergency when you’re mid-dive could prove fatal. Cardiac health can affect divers of any age but our research shows that those most at risk are experienced male divers over the age of 45. So, with our Diving Health Kiosks, we’re encouraging divers to make their cardiac health a top priority. The kiosks are a useful starting point, but we also recommend that divers visit a healthcare professional if they have any reason to doubt their health to be able to dive safely.’

Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

'We are delighted to be able to pass on this sizeable donation to the RNLI, with whom Fred. Olsen has been working since the 1960s. We are proud to be the RNLI’s longest-standing corporate partner and, in January this year, we celebrated the launch of the fifth RNLI lifeboat funded by our generous cruise guests.

'We are now turning our attention to funding the charity’s mobile Diver Health Kiosks, which we recognise will provide divers with a valuable and potentially life-saving resource in terms of being able to assess their health status and suitability before undertaking such strenuous diving activity.'

The RNLI and Fred. Olsen have a longstanding partnership of over 50 years. During this time, the cruise line and its guests have generously funded five inshore lifeboats, including the ‘Pride of Fred. Olsen’ Atlantic 85 lifeboat which they funded for the RNLI’s relief fleet in 2018.

During the last five decades, Fred. Olsen and their guests have also funded three mobile training units, three seminar rooms at The Lifeboat College in Poole in Dorset, and the development and funding of three lifeboat launching trolleys.

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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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