
New coxswain for Fowey RNLI lifeboat station
Fowey RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew member, Adam Russell, has passed out as a fully qualified coxswain at Fowey lifeboat station.
Adam has completed his training and is now qualified to take charge of Fowey’s all-weather lifeboat up on the flying bridge. He was assessed in a final 2 ½ hour pass out exercise on the evening of Tuesday April 11. Adam said: ‘When I stood on the aft deck last night and looked up to the bridge, those steps have never looked bigger!! Deep breath and here we go!’
Training as an RNLI coxswain is a tough process involving many different training scenarios which mimic real life incidents that lifeboat crews have to face. Important aspects of the training are learning how to prioritise in often life-threatening situations and learning how to manage the crew and deal with casualties in difficult rescue situations.
Commenting on his achievement Adam said: ‘I joined the crew around 12 years ago. My reason for joining was my boss at the time was second coxswain and I’d watch him rush off to shouts when the pager went of and I thought I really want to do that!! So the first thing I did when I moved here was sign up! The thing I enjoy the most is not knowing what we are going to when the pager sounds because no two shouts are ever the same.’
Adam, who also started his own marine engineering business, ADR Marine, last year, as well as being an all-weather lifeboat mechanic and navigator, inshore lifeboat helm, casualty care crew and lifeboat trainer assessor continues: ‘My best moment was that Tuesday night when Lyle, the assessor, looked at me and said “congratulations”. I’m also a learning and training assessor at Fowey station, so I know how much time and effort people have put in to me, making up different scenarios and mock shouts. I was a trainee coxswain for just under 2 years, it’s the sort of thing you can’t rush. As I say to trainee inshore lifeboat helms, mechanics and navigators, only you know when you’re ready, and on Tuesday night I felt ready!
Fowey Coxswain, Jonathan Pritchard said: ‘I am delighted that all Adam’s hard work has resulted in him passing out as a coxswain for Fowey’s all-weather lifeboat. Adam is a committed and enthusiastic member of our team and becoming coxswain is a result of the dedication that he’s shown during his time in Fowey RNLI. Adam becomes part of a team of four coxswains who volunteer to ensure that the Fowey lifeboats can be called out to help save lives at sea 24/7. All the crew congratulate Adam on his achievement.’
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.