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Bridlington RNLI father and daughter on call to save lives this Christmas

Lifeboats News Release

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is launching its Christmas appeal today (Monday 12 December), as the charity asks for help to continue its lifesaving work at sea.

Bridlington RNLI volunteers Dave and Danielle Coverdale

RNLI Bridlington

Bridlington RNLI volunteers Dave and Danielle Coverdale

With thousands of volunteers around the UK and Ireland, each RNLI crew member signs up to save every one from drowning – it has been the charity’s mission since 1824.

This Christmas many will leave their loved ones behind to answer the call, each time hoping to reunite another family, and see those in trouble at sea safely returned. Over the past decade, RNLI lifeboats have launched over 1,200 times during the festive period.

In the past five years in the North and East, RNLI lifeboats have launched over 80 times and aided 36 people during the festive season.

At RNLI Bridlington father and daughter volunteers Dave and Danielle Coverdale are preparing for another year on call over the festive period.

Dave said: ‘Its just something that you accept when you join the RNLI crew as a volunteer. Our purpose is to save lives at sea and should the call come we will be ready to drop our Christmas lunch and answer the call.

‘Naturally I do worry as a father over Danielle but I do know that she has had the best training available and is more than capable of completing any task thrown at her.’

Danielle added: ‘Hopefully we won’t be called out on Christmas Day but to everyone at the station and all the RNLI it is just another day. Should the need arise and our pagers go off the festive meal will just have to wait, if someone is in trouble on the water our priority to rescue them.’

But these rescues would not be possible without donations from the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews all year round.

Steve Clarke, Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) at Bridlington RNLI, said: ‘Even at Christmas, our lifesavers are ready to drop everything at a moment’s notice and rush to the aid of someone in trouble on the water. At this time of year, the weather’s at its worst and lives are on the line.

‘We know that every time our crews go out they hope for a good outcome, but sadly this sometimes isn’t the case.

The RNLI is launching its Christmas appeal, as the charity asks for help to continue its lifesaving work at sea.

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit: RNLI.org/Xmas

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact For more information, please call 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

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