International Women’s Day inspired St Davids crew member to join as volunteer

St Davids RNLI volunteer, Emma Lockett, reveals that she was inspired to join after seeing an all-female RNLI crew image on International Women’s Day back in 2019. Being a former cattle farmer and now a fire service trainee, the lifeboat crew member not only saves lives at sea but also on land.

Emma shares, ‘People often ask me why I volunteer to put myself in situations like this. I have never been afraid to roll my sleeves up and get involved in helping out – that’s why I enjoyed my previous job as a cattle farmer so much. Sometimes I have been called on to save the life of a calf, which is very rewarding.

‘I had been cattle farming for a few years when, on International Women’s Day, one of my friends sent a photo to me. I remember looking at my phone and seeing a picture of female lifeboat crew members. That inspired me to go down to the station and ask if I could join. I was ready for a new challenge, where I could help keep human lives safe. And I knew that the RNLI and its supporters are the kind of people who will do all they can to give the crews what they need.’

As Emma begins her new venture in the fire service, it’s fair to say that she is no stranger to helping others. Emma said: ‘I’ve joined the fire service (mid and west Wales). Just finished week 5 of my 14 week initial training! It’s been hard work, physically and mentally but I’m really enjoying it!’

Since joining the RNLI, Emma has attended 41 shouts of which 19 have been as lifeboat crew. During Emma’s first rescue, the crew launched to a climber who had fallen into the sea. Her crewmates got the climber onto a stretcher, and Emma helped pull her aboard.

Emma recalled, ‘When I spoke to the climber on the lifeboat she couldn’t tell me her name – a sign of hypothermia.’

The climber was very cold and had swallowed water. But Emma and the crew gave her casualty care and took her safely to shore.

Emma continued: ‘We later heard she made a complete recovery. I was so glad my first shout had helped save a life.’

Now Emma is training to be an inshore lifeboat helm. She hopes her story will inspire other women to volunteer for the RNLI to help save everyone. With more than 500 female lifeboat crew around the UK and Ireland out there ready to save lives, the RNLI recognise the vital part women have played over the years in our rescue services and will continue to do so in the future.

Not all RNLI roles involve going to sea or being on the end of the pager 24/7. From fundraisers to lifeboat volunteers, lifeguards to press officers, there are a whole host of roles which help the charity save lives at sea.

To find out more about volunteer roles with the RNLI please visit:

https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/how-you-can-volunteer

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Chloe Barr, RNLI National Media Engagement Placement on 01202 336789 or [email protected]

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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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.