Globe trotter settles for life with Bridlington RNLI

Volunteer Kristina Batalina is the newest member of the crew at Bridlington RNLI.

After travelling from her home in Latvia and with time spent in Denmark and then Germany for 3 years, where she trained as a chef, Kristina has finally settled in Yorkshire choosing Bridlington as her home. After arriving in the UK, Kristina has not only secured a job in her profession as a chef but in joining the Bridlington RNLI becomes first ever overseas volunteer and joins the other four female crew members.

Kristina became interested in volunteering with the RNLI and after a few visits to the Bridlington Station decided to sign up and join as a volunteer. Kristina will now start weekly RNLI training exercises focussing on teamwork, technical competence and safe operating procedures covering everything from boat-handling, search and rescue, and navigation, to radar training, radio communications and casualty care. Crews also practise rescue scenarios involving other emergency services such as the Coastguard and fire and rescue services.

Kristina said ‘I like everything that causes an adrenaline rush and gives me as many emotions as possible. I constantly sing and dance whilst cooking, I love to walk, in general I like movement, not just to sit at home in front of the TV. So, volunteering for the RNLI suits my lifestyle perfectly”.

Bridlington Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) Steve Clark added, ‘Bridlington Lifeboat Station is delighted that after a familiarisation tour of the station, and thereafter a preliminary interview by the LOM’s, Kristina confirmed that she would like to volunteer. We are looking forward to her being a part of the Lifesaving Team at Bridlington. Her enthusiasm, desire to learn and willingness to help others is commendable. She will be fully involved in the Station's training programme. I am minded of the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, “you tell me and I forget. You teach me and I remember. You involve me and I learn”. Kristina will be fully involved and I am confident she will do very well at the Station.’

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact Mike Milner, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected] or call:07751-054052.

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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