Two people rescued by Whitby RNLI after getting trapped by the tide.

The rescue, which took place on Saturday 5 November, was the first shout as helm for volunteer crew member Leah Hunter. Leah recently passed her assessment to become a helm on Whitby's inshore lifeboat. The helm is in command of the boat and the crew on board they also usually steer the boat.

The two walkers called the Coastguard after realising they had been cut off by the tide and scrambled up a muddy bank to safety. The crew were able to do a beach landed with the D class lifeboat and transfer the casualties to a nearby slip way in Robin Hood's Bay.

Leah said: 'I was excited to go on my first shout as helm and put my training to the test. The casualties were able to provide really detailed information about their location which helped us to find them very quickly.

She added: 'The main challenge was getting them down the slippy bank as we wanted to ensure that both the crew and casualties were safe as we transferred them to the lifeboat.'

The tide comes in quickly along the stretch of beach between Whitby and Boggle Hole, and Whitby RNLI have responded to numerous shouts this year to walkers who have found themselves in difficulty. The crew share the following advice:

- Always check the tide times and allow plenty of time to reach a safe exit point.
- Always carry a means of calling for help - even the most experienced walkers can find themselves in trouble
- To call for help dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428 or at [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.