RNLI’s youngest ever ‘New Recruit’ responds to pager
Just two minutes after Dr Ed Schwarz’s RNLI pager went off, his partner and mum-to-be, Lucy, went into labour.
As Ed, joined crew members responding to an emergency call out to two kayaker's drifting out to sea, it seems baby Schwarz was keen to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Initially, and unbeknown to Ed, his wife went into labour, just two minutes after the pager had gone off and he had gone out the door.
St Agnes RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Paul Kimberley said,
“We believe baby Schwarz might be the youngest person ever to respond to the famous RNLI pager. He didn’t quite make this shout, but he seems keen and given a few years he might well be on the lifeboat, so I have the paperwork primed.”
Dr Schwarz, a GP, Lifeboat Crew and Trainee Helm sent a photograph of himself and his wife, with their newborn baby, along with a private message to the St Agnes crew, saying
“I think we need to talk about the future staffing of our station. With that in mind, can I propose a future helm in 18 years’ time?”
Happily, Ed was able to get home, from the call out, in plenty of time to be with Lucy for the birth of their son.
Baby Schwarz was born at Treliske Hospital at 3.30am, on 17th April, a little earlier than his expected due date, and weighing 6.1lb. Mum Lucy, Baby Schwarz (and proud dad, Ed) are all fit and well. They have yet to name him, as he decided to make a hasty arrival.
Ed, who knows only too well the pressures faced by NHS staff, commented
“We want to say a huge thank you to the NHS staff. They were amazing, especially given the current situation”.
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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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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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