Cullercoats RNLI in joint training exercise with Coastguard and TVLB

Volunteer Training Coordinators from all teams worked together to arrange the exercise, which involved extracting an 'injured casualty' from rocks near King Edward's Bay. During real rescues, the teams often need to coordinate and work together to rescue those in need of assistance.

Marc Pattinson, Lifeboat Training Coordinator for Cullercoats RNLI, said 'Training exercises, like these, are a vital and a required part of our training. It allows crews to tackle challenging scenarios and to problem solve as part of a wider team. When the pagers go off, we do not know what rescue we will be required to do. It is good practice to train for every eventuality. This exercise was a success and we plan to conduct more in the future.'

Once the exercise was completed, a thorough debrief was carried out to assess learnings, before all teams returned to their respective stations. The lifeboat was washed down, rehoused and made ready for service.

If you or anyone else gets in trouble at the Coast, Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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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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